By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

 

Iran, which is blessed with the world’s 4th largest crude oil deposits and the 2nd largest natural gas deposits, has, with the recent discovery of lithium deposits, now become the second largest holder of this rare ‘white gold’ found around the globe.

This, however, does not mean that the country which accounts for 7 percent of all minerals found worldwide, such as gold, uranium, bauxite, marble, coal, iron ore, zinc, copper, lead, chromium, gypsum, molybdenum, strontium, silica, and barite (world’s sixth largest producer), sits idly and hopes against hope for the lifting of the illegal US sanctions for its exports.

No, to the dismay of its enemies in Washington, the Islamic Republic which is already a topnotch exporter of such agro-industrial products as saffron (red gold), pistachios, and the world famous Persian carpets, besides achieving self-reliance in defence industries, the nuclear fuel cycle, aerospace, stem cell technology, the cyber world, and artificial intelligence (to name a few), is now a leading exporter of electricity to neighbouring countries.

Iran, which now generates 90,000 MW of electricity compared to a mere 7024 in 1978 before the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, is a regional electricity hub with its power grid connected to Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, the Caucasus republic of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan.

In addition, work is in progress for connecting the Iranian power grid with that of Qatar across the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, the signing of the accord on Monday in Tehran by the Iranian Minister of Energy, Ali Akbar Mehrabian and his Pakistani counterpart, Khurram Dastgir Khan, for increase of the volume of power between the two neighbouring countries to 200 megawatts, after completion of the project in a record time, is indication of resolve and capabilities of Iran’s skilled manpower.

Iran and Pakistan already enjoy trade exchanges of two billion dollars per year, a figure which is all set to increase considerably given the eagerness of traders and officials on both sides of the border, to expand commercial, cultural, and political ties.

In view of these developments, we expect the politicians in Islamabad to take steps, without any fear from the American terrorists, for connecting the vital gas pipeline, which for over a decade has not seen any progress. 

The Iranians have proved with their ability to circumvent Washington’s terroristic sanctions that the US cannot do a damn thing and is totally helpless in curtailing the rapid increase of Iran’s hydrocarbon and other exports.

If our Pakistani brothers realize this fact and go ahead with the connection of the natural gas pipeline, they will indeed reap an economic bonanza and will be able to resolve most of the problems of their country.