NEW DELHI, July 23 (UPI) -- Iranian pricing mechanisms and gas custody in the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline are slowing progress more than U.S. pressure, Indian officials say.
"The U.S. will exert pressure, but India will push ahead with the deal. More than U.S. pressure, it is the exorbitant pricing by Iran and the issue of India's demand of delivery of gas at Indo-Pak border which is deferring further movement on the deal," said former Indian Ambassador to the United States Naresh Chandra.
Progress on the planned $5 billion pipeline has been slow, but a visit to India by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in April and a planned conference on the project in Tehran next week point to forward momentum on the deal, Asian News International said Wednesday.
The United States opposes the deal because of the financial boost to Iran, which is under economic sanctions for its controversial nuclear program. Indian foreign affairs officials say economic incentives and energy security factor into any deals on the pipeline more than U.S. pressure, however.
In 2006 India voted in favor of referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council for its nuclear program.
