Tuesday, May 2 2006 15:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India's 22 billion dollar deal to import Liquefied Natural Gas from Iran hangs in balance with Tehran today asserting that the agreement was not binding as it has not been ratified by its Supreme Economic Council.

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Hadi Nejad Hosseinian told reporters that the deal signed in June 2005 was not binding on Iran as the Council wanted some key changes in the contract.

The minister did not specify the changes sought by Iran but Indian officials said Tehran wanted a higher price for the five million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas to be sold to India.