June 29, 2007 (LPAC)--Following the two-days of tripartite talks between Iran, Pakistan and India on the $7 billion-plus gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan, all three parties have announced a successful conclusion of the deal. Promptly, Iran invited Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Iran for inking a tri-nation Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) deal, Iranian media reported, quoting Special Representative of Iranian Petroleum Minister Dr. Ghanimi Fard saying: "The supply of gas is expected to start from 2011."

The IPI deal had been hanging fire for more than a decade. Although the delay was mostly due to the pricing negotiations between the three nations, Washington had been consistently exerting pressure on both India and Pakistan urging them to abandon the project in light of the growing hostilities between Iran and the United States over Iran's nuclear program. Tehran is under US sanctions and, therefore, any nation that conducts business worth more than $40 million a year, can be subjected to US sanctions as well. In fact, during the on-going negotiations between the United States and India on a civilian nuclear cooperation, intent of which was penned by the two heads of states in July 2005, US lawmakers have repeatedly demanded India to drop the pipeline deal and also to weaken its strategic relationship with Iran.

While both President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have already walked extra miles to satisfy Washington's demands on "war on terror", the Iranian invitation to sign the deal is a defining moment for them. On the other hand, within both India and Pakistan, an overwhelming majority wants the signing of the contract and strengthening of overall relations with Iran.