Iran: India Part of Gas Project Deal

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said New Delhi has not been excluded from the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

The Iranian oil minister made the remark in a press conference, where he was asked about the interest Beijing has been showing in the project, and the possible impact its cooperation may have on India’s part in the venture, a press tv report said.

“There is no reason to exclude India. China can be one of our next goals in expanding the project,” he said.

The Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, also known as the Peace Pipeline, is a proposed 2,775 kilometer gas pipeline to carry Iran’s natural gas to Pakistan and India. The $7.4 billion project that will take three to five years to construct is expected to benefit both India and Pakistan, which do not have sufficient natural gas to meet their rapidly increasing energy needs.

An offer has been made by Turkey to India about entering into the Central Asian oil swap.

Asked if it may affect New Delhi’s cooperation with Iran on the pipeline project, Nozari said, “These are speculations which are not true.”