China may replace India in pipeline deal: Iran

{image-iran-india-pak flag1_13022008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Feb 13: A senior Iranian official has said that China is keen to join the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and if New Delhi does not take a decision soon. He further said that then Beijing may replace New Delhi in the deal.

Iran"s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini, who is on a visit to New Delhi said in an unambiguous statement that there is limited time left for India to take a decision on the gas pipeline, the Dawn reported. "Expedite the decision-making process to finalise the gas deal. We don"t have a lot of time," Hosseini said.

Asked how long Iran was ready to wait for India to take a decision on the gas pipeline, Hosseini was quoted as saying: "There is a hope to expedite the process by all three countries...China is also applying pressure and wants to join the project."

ANI