Date:02/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/02/stories/2007050216051400.htm

International - India & World

Ties with India deeper, says Iran

Amit Baruah

Tehran: Iran's Energy Minister Parviz Fatah said on Tuesday that his country would sign next week a contract to sell gas to European Union.

This could be done despite problems Tehran had with the EU. Talking to an Indian delegation, he wondered: "How is it that we can agree with the European Union and not with India?" He was referring to the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. It would be possible to resolve energy-related issues in a "friendly and logical atmosphere."

Mr. Fatah said Iran had been "very concerned and disappointed" that India had twice opted to vote against Iran at the IAEA on the nuclear issue. Still, it maintained contacts with India and he himself had visited New Delhi a couple of months ago.

"I sent the message that nothing has changed [after the votes] to India," he said, pointing out that the bilateral relationship and shared culture between the two countries was "deeper than these issues." "We should tie our nations together," he said. He hoped for the implementation of the gas pipeline as well as the possible transmission of power from Iran to India.