The United States has warned Pakistan of the risk of sanctions after it promised greater security and economic cooperation with Iran during a visit by President Ebrahim Raisi.
“We advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions. But ultimately, the government of Pakistan can speak to their own foreign policy pursuits,” US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday during a news briefing.
The three-day visit by Raisi concluded on Wednesday (24 April) with a pledge to boost bilateral trade to $10 billion annually over the next five years, up from the current $2 billion, reports Al Jazeera.
The two countries agreed to cooperate in the energy sector including trade in electricity, power transmission lines and the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, Al Jazeera reported citing Pakistan’s foreign office.
Emphasising the US imposing sanctions on suppliers to Pakistan's Ballistic Missile Program, Vedant Patel said "We're going to continue to disrupt and take actions against proliferation networks and concerning weapons of mass destruction procurement activities wherever they may occur...Just let me say, broadly, we advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions."
