WikiLeaks: US cautioned Zardari against accepting Iran's oil offer
President Zardari showed reluctance upon being told to decline Iran's offer to give "concessional oil" to Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari was urged by a US official not to agree to Iran’s “concessional oil” offer to Pakistan as it would be “providing Iran with a foothold in Pakistan”, a Wikileaks cable reveals.
The cable filed on October 22, 2008 by former US ambassador Anne Patterson reveals that Zardari told US Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher that Iran’s proposal was “an offer he did not believe he could refuse”. Boucher reminded him of the Deputy Secretary’s recent caution of not allowing Iran to gain traction in Pakistan.
In a meeting that took place at the Aiwan-e-sadar, Zardari – accompanied by former Information Minister Sherry Rehman and US Senior Advisor Hayden – the president expressed reluctance upon Boucher’s request to turn down Iran’s offer. Patterson wrote:
Boucher then reminded Zardari of Ambassador Hussain Haqqani’s recent dialogue with Deputy Secretary Negroponte, in which the Deputy “cautioned against providing Iran with a toehold in Pakistan.”
The cable reiterates the US government’s efforts to isolate Iran economically and military. Earlier this month, US lawmakers said they were seeking to stiffen sanctions on Iran to pressure it to give up its nuclear program and stop alleged abuses of human rights.
Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful energy needs, but Western governments suspect it is aimed at making an atomic weapon.
The United Nations said in March that Iran has increased executions and abuse of human rights and opposition activists.
“As we await vigorous enforcement by the Obama administration … we must continually look ahead and examine additional means to pressure Iran,” Berman, a Democrat, said.
The Obama administration says it is enforcing existing sanctions law but has also emphasized that some companies have abandoned Iranian links voluntarily to avoid US sanctions.
Last September, the State Department said four international energy companies – Total, Statoil, ENI and Royal Dutch Shell had agreed to curtail their energy dealings with Iran.
Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 174700
The full text of the cables can be read on Dawn.com, The HinduandNDTV. WikiLeaks has previously released cables to other media organisations including Guardian and the New York Times.
The cable filed on October 22, 2008 by former US ambassador Anne Patterson reveals that Zardari told US Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher that Iran’s proposal was “an offer he did not believe he could refuse”. Boucher reminded him of the Deputy Secretary’s recent caution of not allowing Iran to gain traction in Pakistan.
In a meeting that took place at the Aiwan-e-sadar, Zardari – accompanied by former Information Minister Sherry Rehman and US Senior Advisor Hayden – the president expressed reluctance upon Boucher’s request to turn down Iran’s offer. Patterson wrote:
Zardari mentioned that Iran has offered to provide Pakistan with concessional oil. How could he go to the National Assembly and tell them Iran had offered the assistance and Pakistan had turned it down, he asked rhetorically.
Boucher then reminded Zardari of Ambassador Hussain Haqqani’s recent dialogue with Deputy Secretary Negroponte, in which the Deputy “cautioned against providing Iran with a toehold in Pakistan.”
The cable reiterates the US government’s efforts to isolate Iran economically and military. Earlier this month, US lawmakers said they were seeking to stiffen sanctions on Iran to pressure it to give up its nuclear program and stop alleged abuses of human rights.
Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful energy needs, but Western governments suspect it is aimed at making an atomic weapon.
The United Nations said in March that Iran has increased executions and abuse of human rights and opposition activists.
“As we await vigorous enforcement by the Obama administration … we must continually look ahead and examine additional means to pressure Iran,” Berman, a Democrat, said.
The Obama administration says it is enforcing existing sanctions law but has also emphasized that some companies have abandoned Iranian links voluntarily to avoid US sanctions.
Last September, the State Department said four international energy companies – Total, Statoil, ENI and Royal Dutch Shell had agreed to curtail their energy dealings with Iran.
Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no. 174700
The full text of the cables can be read on Dawn.com, The HinduandNDTV. WikiLeaks has previously released cables to other media organisations including Guardian and the New York Times.