Iran had called a meeting of technical experts and lawyers from the three nations during September 24-26 to exchange views on the gas-supply contract that India and Pakistan, as consumers, would have to sign with fuel supplier Iran.
A Bill has been introduced in the US Congress aimed at enforcing punitive action against companies doing business with Iran that may impact Indo-US nuclear pact and create obstacles for Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
Differences over the price of natural gas to be imported through the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline persisted on Friday, but the three countries agreed to appoint an international consultant to look into the issue.
Talks on the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project are in the final stage where the technical aspects are being looked into, according to Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Reza Kasai'i Zadeh.
Union ministries are in the midst of a row because of uncleared IAF bills, which were incurred when Pakistan's ex-minister Jadoon had used an IAF plane, during his visit to India.
With External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee set to visit Iran on February 6, there will be more than one pair of eyes watching the visit closely.
While declining to give a time-frame for the implementation of the much-delayed IPI pipeline, Iran has said it could not wait much longer for India and Pakistan to agree on the tariffs payable by India to its neighbour for the gas passing through the pipeline.
In his statement, Hosseini said, "Expedite the decision-making process to finalise the gas deal." The spokesperson for the first time showed Iran's urgency in the matter, saying, "We don't have a lot of time".
Murli Deora has expressed optimism over the IPI gas pipeline project, confirming that talks are on with both Iran and Pakistan to finalise the project.
Iran's energy counsellor in India Ainollah Souri says that Iran will send its gas all over the world, and it is up to India to decide whether it wants a share of it.
The uncertainty over $7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline plan has prompted India to look at the Turkmenistan-Pakistan-Afghanistan pipeline project to meet its growing energy requirements
India, Pakistan agree on gas transport price.
There is no question of the US or any other country pressurising India on the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Notwithstanding US reservations over the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, the World Bank has described it as a win-win deal and expressed readiness to fund the $7 billion project.
India was fully on board and committed to take part in the $7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, a senior official said.
Pakistan and Iran are holding three-day talks in Islamabad on the multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project though India is not participating in the parleys as differences on some key issues remain to be settled.
India has asked Pakistan to waive the $200 million transit fee a year for allowing passage of a pipeline carrying natural gas from Iran.
Ignoring objections from the US, India on Monday said it will go ahead with the proposed gas pipeline project with Iran.
While the pipeline deal was seen as "done" two months ago, when the tri-lateral meeting took place in New Delhi, India is perceived to be dragging its feet on the project since then.
India is likely to sign a $145 billion deal by June to import natural gas from Iran through the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline after Tehran lowered the sale price by 30 per cent.
Differences over pricing of gas has lead to postponement of the first ministerial tripartite meeting between India, Iran and Pakistan on the proposed over $ 7 billion pipeline from Iran.
Russia has supported the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, saying it would help ease risks to global energy security.
India's petroleum minister has that the proposed $7.4 billion gas pipeline from Iran through Pakistan was a risky proposition and could face financial problems.
India on Wednesday said 'it was unfazed' by the United States' opposition to the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, adding it will continue to pursue gas imports from Iran to meet its energy requirements.
In return, Pakistan will withdraw the case from the World Bank,says the South Asia Tribune.
India on Monday said that gas imports from Iran by pipeline passing through Pakistan was indispensable to its economic growth and will enter into trilateral dialogue on the pipeline early next year.
He said there will not be exclusive pipelines for India and Pakistan.
Iran on Tuesday said India had not been 'ousted' from the proposed $7-billion tri-nation pipeline, even as it set an August deadline for New Delhi to sign an agreement on the project.
India and Pakistan will appoint financial consultants to suggest project structure for the $4.16 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline by September 15.
India and Pakistan on Tuesday reported good progress in talks on finalising framework and a timetable for building the $4.16 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
India and Pakistan will on Tuesday discuss financing of the $4.1-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, the transit fee that Islamabad will charge for allowing the passage of the pipeline to India and security issues.
Last week, Pakistan and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation of the 2600-km project.
BHP Billiton, the world's largest diversified resources company, has said that there are sufficient features in the pre-feasibility study of the $4.16-billion Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline to ensure safety.
Tehran is seeking at least 7.2 dollars per mBtu price for gas it wants to sell to India and Pakistan through the over 7 billion dollar pipeline while New Delhi is willing to pay no more than 4.2 dollars per mBtu for gas delivered at its border.
BHP Billiton, the Australian consultant which carried out pre-feasibility survey of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, has said that the 2775-km long pipeline project has sufficient safeguards to prevent any disruption in the supplies.
Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday denied any differences within the government on the $4.16-billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and said New Delhi was going ahead with the project as scheduled.
