Thursday, September 21 2006 15:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is expected to undertake a visit here next month in a follow up to the discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Iranian President Mohammad Ahmedinijad in Havana last week.

Wideranging discussions on the issues including energy cooperation are likely during the visit in the latter half of October after the end of holy month of Ramzan, sources told sources here yesterday (Sept 20,2006).

"Two sets of dates have been proposed and exact timing of the visit is being worked out through diplomatic channels, " they said.

Singh and Ahmedinijad met twice in Havana on the sidelines of the NAM summit and discussed the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and Tehran's standoff with the West over its controversial nuclear programme.

During the meeting the two leaders agreed that India and Iran must work together to strengthen bilateral relations.

After the meeting Singh said that India would rework on the gas pipeline once the report of the experts on the feasibility of the US$ 7.4 billion project is available.

Iran has sought revision of rates of gas that India proposes to purchase from the Persian country.

On Iran nuclear issue, Singh told Ahmedinijad that Iran, as a signatory to the NPT, must have all rights for peaceful use of nuclear energy but pursue obligations also.

Mottaki was scheduled to visit India on July 19 but postponed it indefinitely at the last moment in view of conflict in Lebanon.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari undertook a two-day visit last month during which the issues of gas pipeline and LNG projects came up for discussions.

The issue of security for the pipeline came up during talks between Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Rajiv Sikri and Safari in view of the unrest in Balochistan through which the pipeline has to pass.

The two sides affirmed their commitment to the pipeline project even as its security aspect would be under a scanner.

The Iranian dignatory conveyed to the Indian side that his government was committed to the pipeline project as well as the US $22 billion LNG project.

New Delhi asked Tehran to honour the LNG deal signed in June last year. Safari said there were some stake-holders to the LNG deal and its pros and cons were being debated.