NEW DELHI, April 29: Oil ministers of Iran, Pakistan and India would meet within the next 45 days to agree on a final draft for the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline that would be then signed by the political heads of the three countries, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here on Tuesday.

“All pending issues and agreements would be finalised within 45 days and given to the leadership of the three countries. Afterwards we will decide,” Mr Ahmadinejad told a news conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

It was not clear whether the Indian prime minister, who had expressed lack of confidence in the financial support for the project, had changed his mind. The Indian response to the talks appeared to indicate lingering doubts.

For example, the Press Trust of India quoted Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon as saying that the pipeline was a “doable” project though a “lot of work” needs to be done to ensure that it is commercially viable, secure and there were assured supplies. The Iranian comments seemed to be a little more positive.

When Mr Menon was asked to comment on western concerns over Iran, he said, according to PTI, that India saw Tehran as a factor of stability in the region.

On his part, far from exuding worry from the escalating US and Israeli military postures that could torpedo many calculations, including the IPI project, the Iranian president poked fun at the United States. “It is in its last phase. It is printing worthless currency, which is causing the oil prices to escalate. It’s time for them to pack up and leave the region alone.”

Flatly denying that Iran was planning to build nuclear weapons, Mr

Ahmadinejad said nuclear weapons were immoral and all countries possessing them should destroy their arsenal.

He also added mysteriously that it would be a strange development for the United States if it would allow a black person or a woman to be elected as president. On a new proposal to extend the IPI pipeline to include China, he said: “We have received one proposal. We will evaluate it and consider its merit and evaluate all aspects.”

Mr Ahmadinejad who was on a six-hour transit in Delhi on his way home from Colombo played down his country’s surprise at India’s decision to vote against it at the IAEA. “Ours is a deep and historic relationship. The two sides are too close to each other and hope in the future we will finalise the gas pipeline project.’’

Mr Menon said a meeting of the India-Iran Joint Commission would be held in the middle of the year when the two countries will discuss ways to strengthen their relationship.

Asked whether Mr Ahmadinejad requested Dr Singh to intervene in sorting out Iran’s strained ties with the West, the foreign secretary said ‘no’. The two leaders agreed to triple bilateral trade to 30 billion US dollars but set no date.

Apparently responding to concerns in Washington about the visit, Mr Menon was quoted as saying: “I do not think what we are doing with Iran should worry anybody. The more the engagement, the better it is for us all.’’