Iran Seeking Closer Naval, Energy Connections With India - AFP

[hatrack]

Iran on Monday urged India to forge closer military ties, especially between their two navies, officials told AFP. Iranian naval chief Sajjad Kouchaki Badelani kicked off a five-day visit with talks with local military leaders including Defence Minister K.A. Antony, Indian navy spokesman Vinay Garg told AFP. "The two sides spoke about (bilateral) maritime cooperation and about our energy needs and they called for closer cooperation," Commander Garg said.

"The talks were far-reaching in regards to our presence up to Australia and theirs across the (Indian Ocean) rim nations," added a top naval official, who did not want to be named.

Iran's ties with India were piqued over Delhi's support for an International Atomic Energy Agency demand for Tehran to freeze its nuclear programme as well as the UN watchdog's decision to report the issue to the Security Council.

Meanwhile a deal to sell Iranian gas through a 2,600 kilometre (1,600 mile) pipeline to India via rival Pakistan remains at the planning stage mainly due to diplomatic, military and economic hurdles.

EDIT

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Iran_Seeks_Closer_Naval_Ties_With_Oil_Starved_India_999.html

[Eugene]

1. Gas pipeline from Iran to India to be built in parts - IRNA

Gas pipeline from Iran to India to be built in parts

New Delhi, March 6, IRNA

The over USD 7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline is likely to be built in parts
with the three nations deciding to construct segments of the pipeline falling in their
territory independently.

"Iran will build the pipeline segment in its territory and Pakistan will be responsible for
construction of the section falling in its territory. Indian firms will lay the pipeline from the
Indo-Pak border to their consumption centers," PTI reported here quoting a top Petroleum
Ministry official.

India will enter into an agreement with Iran for purchase of gas at its border and responsibility
will be fixed on Islamabad for safe passage of the pipeline, uninterrupted supplies and delivery
of gas at the Indian border.

The official said that setting up of an international consortium, comprising state firms of the
three countries and global energy majors, for construction and operation of the world's most
valuable project could be a non-starter due to political and legal opposition from the US,
including the threat of invoking sanctions under the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA).

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News sent: 12:50 Tuesday March 06, 2007

Full article: http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-239/0703064770125049.htm