India and Iran discussed the nuclear issue and cooperation in
energy sector at the meeting between visiting Iranian deputy
foreign minister and Indian counterpart Tuesday, the Ministry of
External Affairs said.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia, Oceania and
Commonwealth Mehdi Safari arrived here Tuesday and met with Rajiv
Sikri, Secretary (East) with Indian Ministry of External Affairs,
the ministry said in a press release.
On the nuclear issue, Safari said Iran is open to negotiations
and willing to cooperate fully with International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) but insist on its rights under the Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) and the issue being reverted to the IAEA.
India does not want confrontation and destabilization in the
region, Sikri said. "India wants all issues to be resolved through
dialogue and discussion rather than coercion."
India believes that as a signatory to the NPT Iran must enjoy
all its rights and honor all its obligations, he said.
The two sides reaffirmed the commitment to the
Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project while India emphasized the
importance of Iran to honor the liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal
signed in June 2005, the press release said.
The gas pipeline project talks have moved little as the three
sides disagreed on the price of gas. Iran would like to raise the
price in line with the oil price hike while India and Pakistan want
it to be based on the cost.
And Iran also wants to raise the price of LNG in the deal of
supplying 5 million tons of LNG to India.
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2006)
