Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi says India's decision to go ahead with a pipeline project to bring Iranian gas to India via Pakistan will encourage regional peace and trade.
Mr. Kharazi is on a two-day visit to New Delhi and he made the remarks as he met Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh and was due to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He said India's recent approval of the gas pipeline has created an encouraging atmosphere for pushing ahead this highly important project.
Negotiations on the more than 2,700 kilometer pipeline began in 1994. But strained relations between India and Pakistan held up approval of the project.
The talks gained momentum after India's new Congress government came to power last May and pushed forward an ongoing peace process with Pakistan.
Some information for this story provided by AFP and Reuters.
