U.S. Tells Georgia to Avoid Long-Term Gas Deals with Iran

The U.S. will not approve Georgia's long-term energy-related cooperation with Iran, but it seems it may turn a blind eye on short-term Georgian-Iranian deals envisaging emergency gas supplies during the winter period.

U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Tefft said in an interview published by the Georgian weekly Kviris Palitra on November 27 that a strategic partnership between Georgia and Iran in energy issues is unacceptable for the United States.

But Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli said on November 27 that Tbilisi plans to cooperate with Iran over energy issues and "will apparently buy Iranian gas."

By Civil Georgia