TEHRAN, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- India is interested in bolstering its energy ties with Iran and supports the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline.
The 1,725-mile IPI pipeline, also known as the "peace pipeline," was proposed in the 1990s to move Iranian natural gas to India via Pakistan before rising regional political tensions shelved the project.
During a two-day visit to Iran last month, Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Additional Secretary Sudhir Bhargava told his hosts that India is willing to rejoin the IPI pipeline project, the Iranian Labor News Agency reported Monday.
During his visit Bhargava discussed mutual oil and gas concerns with Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi, National Iranian Gas Co. Managing Director Javad Oji and other officials. Following his meeting with Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International and Commercial Affairs Ahmad Khaledi, Bhargava told journalists that "India welcomes boosting oil and gas ties with Iran."
