ISLAMABAD: Iran 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,” spokesman of Iranian oil ministry Alireza Nikzad-Rahbar has been quoted as saying by Meher News Agency on Wednesday.

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 kilometres of the pipeline on Iran soil.

In March, Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas 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.



