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Iran is to start gas swap talks with India and Pakistan next month, said Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Mohammad Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian. "On Indian petroleum minister's visit to Tehran in June 2005 we plan to invite Pakistani petroleum minister to hold trilateral talks in Tehran," Nejad Hosseinian told IRNA news agency here on Saturday. "Indian minister has not opposed presence of Pakistan minister in tripartite talks," he said and hoped Pakistan officials will not have any objections to this either. He said Indian officials have proposed choosing Pakistani route for pumping Iran's gas and receiving fuel on Pakistani-Indian border.

He said investigation is underway to build a three-way consensus on security of supply and non-disruption of transfer process in Pakistan and its delivery to India.

Nejad-Hosseinian said Tehran-New Delhi-Islamabad talks on the issue can be promising, hoping talks will be held in Tehran.

On route of pipeline deal regarding certain beliefs that it should cross populated regions in Pakistan, he said route of transfer is not related to Iran.

He said necessary studies have been made on the route pipeline will cross Iranian territory and on point for entry of gas from Iran to Pakistani border.

He said it is up to Pakistanis, to chose route from where they want to receive gas from Iran and up to Indians from which border point they will let gas enter their territory.

He said pricing is "most difficult" part of talks on gas transfer to India, adding Indian officials proposed gas delivered from Iran should be competitive with coal price in India which is lowest in its kind in the country.

He said Tehran would not be influenced by such pressures. The export to India and Pakistan is not only option for export of Iran's gas.

There are many other ways for exports.

Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project is of political significance for three sides, said Nejad-Hosseinian, hoping they will reach agreement in the field. Gas market has undergone changes since about one year ago, he added.

On likely withdrawal of India from project under the United States pressure, he said in a meeting recently, Indian minister stressed no US pressure had been at work.

India has shown throughout history that it is an independent state, is not influenced by political and international pressures and decides about its economic interests, he added.

Nejad-Hosseinian said due to political problems, finalisation of gas exports deals is not much within Iran's power and political pressures of the US and some states overshadow Tehran's activities.

He said efforts are under way to ensure gas swap talks go on with adequate speed.

Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline deal is suspended for 10 to 12 years. Tehran was not responsible for the issue, he noted.

He said chance has arisen for implementing the project but it is not completely for sure. The possibility of deal's finalisation does not prevent Iran from holding talks for gas export to other parts.

On possibility of agreement between Iran and Pakistan on gas exports, he said three-way pipeline project is fully aimed at making it more economical and least costly.

Talks to build 4.5 billion-dollar gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan began in 1994 but little headway was made due to tensions between Pakistan and India.

But against backdrop of easing tensions between two countries, Indian minister said recently he had won cabinet approval for resuming talks on 2,600-kilometer overland gas pipeline.

Indian Minister will visit Islamabad this month to discuss logistics of pipeline linking Iran's South Pars gas field to India via south-west Pakistan.

Copyright Pakistan Press International, 2005


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