Murli Deora says gas pipeline deal with Pakistan, Iran soon to be signed

Jeddah, June 23 : Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Monday said that India would soon sign an agreement with Iran and Pakistan on the .5 billion transnational pipeline project.

After meeting his Iranian counterpart Gholam Hussein Nozari here, Deora said that there were some issues with Pakistan, which have been sorted out. Some minor problems in the project have also been solved.

"India has to talk to Pakistan's new oil minister and we hope that the agreement would soon be signed with both countries, " Deora added.

The negotiations on the deal started in 1994 but have been stalled by a series of disagreements over prices and transit fees.

The Left parties have accused the UPA government of going back on the gas pipeline deal.

Murli Deora and Finance Minister P Chidambaram attended the meeting of the World Energy Ministers in Jeddah to discuss strategies to control spiralling crude prices yesterday.

ANI