TEHERAN: India on Saturday supported Iran's peaceful nuclear energy programme in keeping with Teheran's international obligations and commitments.

All sides should facilitate dialogue and resolve existing issues concerning Iran under the International Atomic Energy Agency framework, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here. His comments came after External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaqi and top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani on Saturday. Iran conveyed to Mr. Singh that all clearances relating to giving effect to the $21 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal with India had been received. Also, the spokesman stated that Iran was giving positive consideration to India's desire to increase the agreed amount of five million tonnes of LNG by another 2.5 million tonnes.

Mr. Ahmadinejad conveyed to Mr. Singh that projects such as the gas pipeline were useful in binding India, Pakistan and Iran together. Mr. Singh's 40-minute meeting with the Iranian President was described as warm and cordial. Petroleum Ministers from India, Iran and Pakistan are expected to meet before year-end to give shape to their proposed trilateral gas pipeline project, Mr. Singh said after talks with his Iranian counterpart.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesman said the two Foreign Ministers reviewed the India-Iran, India-Pakistan and Pakistan-Iran meetings held so far.

Mr. Singh informed his Iranian counterpart that India had already appointed a financial consultant to go into the project. Mr. Mottaqi said that the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline had been "finalised" and different committees were now working toward its execution.

The spokesman said a preliminary understanding on the preferred structure of the project was likely to be ready by November. Once there was an agreement on this between the three countries, a trilateral framework agreement would be reached by the end of 2005.

Though the agreement for five million tonnes of LNG had been initialled in the last days of the previous Iranian Government, there had been some talk of re-opening the entire deal given the rising costs of oil in the international market.

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