India to go ahead with Iran gas pipeline project

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 18: Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed today said India will go ahead with the proposed gas pipeline project to India from Iran.

Addressing a press conference here, he said preliminary ministerial and technical discussions in this regard had already been completed with Iran.

Regarding the Iran nuclear issue, Mr Ahamed said it had been India's consistent stand that the issue should be resolved in a transparent manner though dialogue and discussions.'' India had consistently stated that all sides must work to find a diplomatic solution and that confrontations should be avoided at all costs, he said.

''Both India and Iran enjoy traditional and friendly relations and we intend to further strengthen our relations in all fields,'' Mr Anamed added.

UNI