ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: President Gen Pervez Musharraf stepped in on Saturday to resolve the gas pricing issue that has emerged as a threat to the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline project earlier this week.

Serious differences over the gas pricing were reported among the three parties this week.

President Musharraf telephoned his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to seek early conclusion of the project by resolving the pricing issue on fast track basis.

When contacted, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam and military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan said that the conversation centred on the IPI project. Ms Aslam said that the two leaders agreed to stay in touch on the matter.

“The basic subject was the IPI pricing formula,” Maj-Gen Sultan said, adding that President Musharraf called for early conclusion of the deal and resolution of the pricing issue at the earliest possible to which the Iranian president agreed.

Maj-Gen Sultan said the two presidents also discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations.

IRNA, the official news agency of Iran, quoted President Musharraf as saying: "Pakistan supports the (gas pipeline) project … because of its increasing needs for energy. We request the project be accelerated."

The IPI project and the pricing issue will be discussed in detail when Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri visits Iran on December 20 and 21.

Apparently, the two presidents on Saturday also discussed regional and international developments.

IRNA reported that Tehran’s nuclear programme also figured in their conversation. “President Ahmadinejad appreciated Pakistan's support for Iran's inalienable right to peaceful use of nuclear technology and said it indicates the friendly and brotherly relations between the two nations and governments,” it was reported.

IRNA quoted President Musharraf as saying: "We want to strengthen bilateral relations with Iran and we always recognize Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy and support it.”