Tehran: Iran`s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday said the West "has no right to obstruct" the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
The pipeline project has nothing to do with the nuclear issue, said Ahmadinejad at a ceremony attended by his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari to inaugurate the project in Iran`s southeastern Chabahar city, reported Xinhua.
The $7.5-billion project was launched on Monday despite strong opposition by the US.
Iran has constructed 900 km of the 1,600-km pipeline on its soil and both Iranian and Pakistani firms have undertaken the construction of the remaining part in Pakistan.
Calling the occasion a "historic day" for the region, the Iranian president said the gas pipeline project is the beginning of "great work" which will benefit not only the two countries but also the regional states.
IANS
