India denies US pressure on Indo-Iran gas pipeline
Iran-India, Economics, 3/26/2007

India's Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee has said the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project will go ahead despite US objections.

"Talks on this pipeline are on. When I was in Iran I had categorically mentioned that we are interested in the pipeline and negotiations on the pricing are going on," said Mukherjee in an interview to an Indian private news channel "NDTV," yesterday.

The US Energy Secretary Samuel W Bodman in New Delhi said last week that he had told the Indian government about American concerns on the deal.

Later on, on March 24, India made it clear it will go ahead with the project, while India's Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters in Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra, "I don't see any problem (on the IPI pipeline). No country can debar India from this project.
We are committed to this."

Deora, however, did not give any time frame for the project to start.
"I can't give any time frame. The advisors have been appointed and they are preparing the feasibility report. It is too early to say at this stage," he has said.

Previous Stories:
  India, Iran discuss natural gas supply to India   (11/18/2006)
  TAP gas pipeline project not a substitute for India: UPA   (5/22/2006)
  Iran, India, Pakistan gas pipeline agrreement discussed   (4/29/2006)

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