FM Mukherjee predicts Iran will be India’s biggest energy provider

Tehran Times Political Desk.  TEHRAN – Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has predicted that Iran will be the biggest energy provider to India. Mukherjee has also expressed hope that India would participate in Iran’s oil and gas projects especially in South Pars Gas field.  The India top diplomat arrived in Tehran for a three-day visit as Tehran and New Delhi are holding their joint economic commission meeting.  In a statement issued on Saturday, the Indian foreign minister also reiterated that his country is determined to push ahead for the implementation of the 2,600-kilometer Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline which would carry Iranian gas to Pakistan and India.  In the statement Mukherjee called for talks between India and Pakistan to resolve “existing problems” in order to take practical steps for implementing the pipeline project which is also known as “peace pipeline.”  Mukherjee said, “An enhancement of traditional economic ties between Iran and India will strengthen the economies of the two countries.”  Meanwhile, Iranian Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari announced that India has expressed its willingness to invest in Phase 12 of South Pars Gas Field which was agreed by Iran.  “The country has expressed its interest to invest in Phase 12 of the South Pars which we also announced our readiness,” Nozari said in a joint press conference with Mukherjee.   Nozari also said India is interested in constructing “the peace pipeline” and doing projects in Iran’s “Fars Oil Field.”   

NEW DELHI (IRNA) -- India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has emphasized Iran's right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful uses.   “We firmly are of the view that Iran has every right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he noted.  In an interview with IRNA ahead of departure to Tehran, Mukherjee explained his opinion about his visit to Tehran for participating in Iran-India joint commission before he left India.  Excerpts of interview:  Q: Your Excellency's visit to Tehran is taking place in a desirable circumstance after the inking of the U.S.-India nuclear deal, the visit is, in fact, an affirmation of the strong relations between Iran and India and a rejection of the rumors that the deal may influence the ties between Tehran and New Delhi. What is your views in this regard?   Pranab: India-Iran relations are important in themselves because of our historic, civilizational as well as contemporary ties. Regular exchange of high level visits has always been characteristic of our relations. This is in fact my third visit in about 20 months and underscores both the importance which India gives to its relations with Iran as also the substantive interests India and Iran have in common.  Q: It seems that the relations between Iran and India have to be evaluated without the prospect of peace pipeline. How do you think about this?  Pranab: India and Iran have a broad based relationship and no single issue defines it in its entirety. Energy security is important for India and Iran as a major hydrocarbon exporting country. The energy aspect of our relationship is therefore also extremely important. Both sides are committed to the Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline Project which is an important part of our much wider relationship on energy related issues.  Q: What percentage of the energy need of India would be met by the U.S.-India nuclear deal? Which are the other plans India is looking for to have access to the secure energy resources?  Pranab: As an energy deficient country we have to use all available sources of energy - Thermal, Hydro, Nuclear, Solar, Wind, etc. Just as the Civil Nuclear Agreement is important from our energy security point of view, similarly, other sources are also important and we will pursue all possible sources to meet our energy requirements so as to ensure that our developmental goals are fully achieved. Q: NAM has increased its influence on the international developments. Do you think that NAM will regain its earlier strong position in the international levels.  Pranab: NAM continues to provide the guiding principle of the foreign policies of many countries and has continued relevance for the countries of Asia and the entire developing world India as a founder member of NAM is convinced of the continued importance.   Q: The Western and Indian media have said many things on the recent remarks of the Indian Prime Minister about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities. What exactly was the context of the Prime Minister's remarks? Particularly, it is said that the Prime Minister uttered the remarks keeping in mind the U.S.-India nuclear deal.  Pranab: In my view the Prime Minister stated our position which is well known. We have all along been saying that all issues relating to Iran's Nuclear Programme must be resolved through dialogue and understanding and that confrontation must be avoided. We believe that the IAEA must play a central role in resolving all the outstanding issue.  Q: As your Excellency is well aware, the negotiations between Iran and the Group of 5+1 are advancing well and it seems that the group is satisfied. Particularly, the reports of the Secretary General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) endorse a good cooperation of Iran with the world body. Since, Your Excellency had earlier said that Iran's nuclear issue has to be taken out of the political concept and put it into a technical and legal one, how do you see the process in this regard?  Pranab: As I said we believe that the IAEA must play a central role in this process. We firmly are of the view that Iran has every right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and in a manner that is consistent with its international obligations and commitments.