Indian minister says Iran gas pipeline deal coming

Paris, May 31: A deal on a billion pipeline transferring gas from Iran through Pakistan to India is approaching, India's minister for petroleum and natural gas said on Thursday.

''A deal is coming,'' Murli Deora told sources at an energy conference in Paris. ''It will come.'' Iran said on Tuesday it hopes to sign a final deal for the project next month.

The three countries agreed over the price formula for the pipeline in January and a new round of negotiations started in Tehran on Sunday.

The pipeline, known as the ''peace pipeline'', aims to feed the growing energy needs of the subcontinent. It has made slow progress due to political tensions between India and Pakistan and differences between New Delhi and Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme.

REUTERS

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