TEHRAN – Pakistani Energy expert and former director of operations for the World Bank Moazzam Ziad Alahdad said U.S. sanctions cannot stop Iran from doing business with the world and the Islamic republic will definitely find a way to maintain its oil exports.

Speaking with IRNA on Sunday, Alhadad noted that U.S. sanctions on Iran will have a significant impact on the oil prices.
“But short answer, such decision will affect the oil market but in the long run we would see what will happen,” he said.
The expert believed that as neighbors, Iran and Pakistan should expand economic cooperation to the maximum possible levels.
“We are neighbors, we have many complementary interests and we can increase trade to a much greater level and that what we should focus on,” former WB director said.
He said Pakistan should complete gas pipeline project with Iran because Pakistan has not built its own infrastructure to use the gas which is available inside the country to overcome energy crisis.
The expert was of the view that it is very important for the Pakistani economy to be able to get its energy from where it can and of course at reasonable and viable prices and IP gas project is one such option. 
The analyst hoped Iran could become part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. “Gwadar is very near to Iran and Chabahar and Gwadar ports can complement each other and they can work with each other,” he said.
The United States last Monday announced that it will not renew exemptions granted last year to buyers of Iranian oil, asking them to stop purchases by May 1 or face sanctions, a move to choke off Tehran’s oil revenues.
EF/MA