Iranian Oil Ministry spokesman says New Delhi is in talks with Tehran to join the multi-billion-dollar pipeline which Iran is building to export natural gas to Pakistan.
“Since India has been motivated by Pakistan’s seriousness in building the [Iran-Pakistan] ‘peace pipeline’, New Delhi is negotiating to join the project,” Ali Reza Nikzad-Rahbar said.
The Iranian official added that there has been considerable progress in the Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline, with Iranian contractors starting work on the Pakistani section of the pipeline, after finishing nearly 900 kilometers of the pipeline on Iran soil.
In March, Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily voiced his country’s willingness to join the pipeline project.
The pipeline will enable the export of 21.5 million cubic meters per day of Iranian natural gas to Pakistan.
The Pakistani government has stressed that it would go ahead with the construction of the gas pipeline despite threats and pressure from the US.