Smart Ulterior Motive or Evidence of Iranian Influence? Iraq Oil Pipeline to Iraq & Syria
According to MENAFN News, Iraqi Oil Minister, Hussain Al-Shahristani, has today announced plans to construct an oil and natural gas pipeline to both Iran and Syria - scheduled to begin construction in 2008.
Both neighboring countries have been long accused by the United States of meddling inside Iraq and are both accused of fueling the ongoing insurgency against U.S. forces.
At the same time … the U.S. has begrudgingly recognized the role both nations can play in soothing the civil unrest between the religious and tribal factions inside and across Iraq. Joint talks between the Iraq, Iran, Syria and the U.S. have yielded some promise, but for whom?
Iraq must increase its oil output significantly before it can improve its long term economic self-sustanence and the pipeline deal appears to be a win-win for all nations involved.
As previously mentioned, Iran might have some of the world’s largest oil reserves but its centralized economy, run by inept and corrupt Mullah’s, has done little to maintain nor invest in its refinery infrastructure and Iran’s domestic demand for energy has far outpaced its energy supplies. Iran needs Iraqi energy appetite and recent rioting across Iran demonstrates the scale of the energy crunch faced by the Iranian government.
I wonder what the U.S. will make of the pipeline announcement?
Hmmm….
Ulterior motives? The USA?! haha