| While declining to give a time-frame for the implementation of the much-delayed IPI pipeline, Iran has said it could not wait much longer for India and Pakistan to agree on the tariffs payable by India to its neighbour for the gas passing through the pipeline. |
| "We do not have much time," said Sayed Mohammad Hosseni, Iran's foreign minister's representative and spokesman. |
| The pipeline, which was conceptualised over 10 years ago, is currently being held up due to differences between the sides on pricing of the gas. |
| Also India and Pakistan have not yet agreed on the transit fee that India has to pay to Pakistan for ensuring safety of the pipeline crossing through its territory. |
| The disagreement between India and Pakistan has been cited by India as a reason for its not taking part in the last few meetings on the pipeline between Iran and Pakistan, during which the two sides claim to have agreed on many issues. |
| Hosseni said that an India delegation, along with a Pakistani one, had been invited for talks on the pipeline in Tehran. "We are working out the dates for the talks," he said. |
| Iran also said that it remained committed to finalising the deal with India. "Many countries have approached us and they want to be a part of the pipeline project. We may consider other countries after implementing the project between Iran, Pakistan and India," Hosseni said. |
| In fact, China may replace India in the pipeline project if India does not agree on the project soon. |
| The pipeline is scheduled to transport 60 million cubic metres per day (mcmd) of gas in the first phase from Iran's prolific South Pars field to Pakistan and India. |
| Of this, Pakistan and India would get 30 mcmd each. An Iranian official said that the 30 mcmd of gas marked for India could go to China if the project morphs into Iran-Pakistan-China pipeline. |
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