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Iran willing to go ahead with pipeline project

Special Correspondent

Wants implementation to start by year end

NEW DELHI: Iran says the change of regime following elections in that country will not have any impact on the fate of the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

According to the visiting Iranian Deputy Oil Minister, Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian, the new Iranian Government is willing to go ahead with the project. He said here on Wednesday that Mani Shankar Aiyar had been asked to expedite the process so that its implementation could begin by the end of the year.

Mr. Hosseinian is heading a high-level delegation to attend the first Joint Working Group meeting with India on the project. India and Pakistan held one meeting of their bilateral Joint Working Group last month.

He told newspersons that India's security concerns regarding the project would be addressed and a foolproof arrangement made to safeguard the pipeline from possible threats. "There have been discussions on protecting the Peace Pipeline. We are sure that some solution will be found for safeguarding this project from possible threats."

Besides, he said Iran was willing to bear the cost of the pipeline in its territory. Regarding the impact of the increase in steel prices, he said the project costs should rise by about 30 to 40 per cent. At the same time, he pointed out that steel prices were once again declining.

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