Iran has given an assurance again that it shall remain committed to a proposed $7 billion natural gas pipeline, which is to run to India via Pakistan according to its Deputy Oil Minister, reiterating Iran's stand on Thursday.
 
"We will continue to do our best to implement it," Mohammad Hadi Nejad-Hosseinian told reporters at a news conference.

The pipeline has already faced opposition from the United States, accusing Iran for seeking nuclear arms, funding anti-Israeli militias and stirring militant attacks against US forces in Iraq.

But Nejad-Hosseinian, speaking after talks with Indian officials in New Delhi, said: "I don't think Pakistan and India will yield to pressure of the United States. This pipeline will bring peace to the region."

India is similarly sure that the pipeline is important for both India and Pakistan and it shall serve as an added means of Indo-Pak friendship through the good offices of Iran. However, India and Iran in their joint statement made at the News Conference that they were in the process of discussing options on the price issue.  It is likely to be taken forward in March meeting to be held between oil ministers of all the three concerned countries in Tehran.

"We are going to prepare a draft agreement in March which will include the structure of the project, framework agreement, responsibility of each government and framework of price formula," Nejad-Hosseinian said.

Pakistan and India are confident that they would start building the pipeline from Iran by 2007 despite U.S. opposition.

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