Iran positive on tri-nation gas pipeline

Dubai, Mar 13: Iran has expressed the hope that the proposed seven billion dollar gas pipeline connecting the country to Pakistan and India would be realised as it seeks new markets for its abundant natural gas.

A foreign ministry official said in Tehran that it was important that Iran should seek to win the confidence of India and Pakistan over its gas exports.

The transfer of Iran's natural gas to the international markets is still on the agenda and India and Pakistan would definitely receive priority, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Sheikh Attar was quoted by Tehran Times as saying.

''At present, oil is an influential factor in our foreign policy; the energy sector opens a new chapter in our diplomacy. The issue calls for coordination between the Oil Ministry and Foreign Ministry'' he noted.

Sheikh Attar, who was speaking at an international conference on energy and security, referred to Russia's axing of gas supplies to Ukraine as reinforcing his view and said it meant the significance of energy in the politics.

Given the fact that Iran is an important oil and gas producer in West Asia, any turmoil or tension in the oil supply or its transfer would affect Asia more than Europe, he added.

UNI