The Bangladesh Journal - India denies US pressure over Iranian pipeline

IRNA: India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Murli Deora has denied reports of United States pressuring India over the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project. He said talks are underway with the other two countries for expediting the project.

"The US is not pressuring us on the Indo-Iranian gas pipeline issue. India is not a country which can be pressurized," Deora said while referring to reports that the US was delaying the nuclear deal with India citing the dlrs 7.4 billion gas pipeline project.

"Those who are thinking that the US is mounting pressure on us are mistaken," Deora told mediapersons in Surat in Gujarat state, Monday, a PTI report said here.

"The government is trying its best to reach a solution between Iran, Pakistan and India for the pipeline," he said addressing mediapersons after commissioning a part of the 576 kms of Dahej-Uran gas pipeline.

The project is not making headway as the differences between Islamabad and New Delhi over the tariff India is to pay to transport gas from Iran through the 1,035 km stretch in Pakistan remain unresolved. The price, at which Iran is willing to supply gas to India, is another area which requires consensus.

"Once the gas pipeline is laid it will help both Pakistan and India get gas," he said.

"High-level talks are on for the purpose between the oil ministers of Iran and Pakistan," Deora said, adding that he had met his Iranian counterpart twice on the issue at Riyadh and Tehran recently.

When asked why the negotiations between the three countries was taking time, Deora said, "It is a big project and so it is taking time".

"We are trying our best to see that this project goes through," he added.

Talking about the LNG contract signed between India and Iran in 2005, Deora said, "We are trying to purchase gas at the cheapest rates possible from Iran".

The minister, however, did not reveal the price that was being negotiated by the two countries.