UPI: Iran launches natural gas charm offensive

The Iranian and Pakistani heads of state discussed natural gas issues on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting, Iran's Oil Ministry said.

Pakistan is eager to secure more natural gas from its Asian partners to relieve a lingering energy crisis in the country. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif discussed the issue on the sidelines of the annual U.N. session late Tuesday, the Iranian Oil Ministry's news website, Shana, reports.

The website said Pakistan plans at some point to send a delegation to Iran to discuss natural gas pipeline options.

Shana reported pipeline construction is under way on both sides of the border. Pakistan could receive 750 million cubic feet of natural gas from Iran each day through the pipeline.  MORE