NEW DELHI, Jan 30: Indian Oil Minister Murli Deora is expected to visit Islamabad in early February to revive the mutli-billion dollar gas pipeline deal, The Hindu newspaper said on Wednesday.

In a related development, Iran has suggested Feb 12 or 13 as dates for holding talks with India and Pakistan in Tehran to settle the $7 billion deal, the paper said.

The Hindu quoted highly placed sources as saying that Pakistan’s former Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon had invited Mr Deora to pay a visit for sorting out issues pertaining to the project during their meeting in London late last week.

“The Pakistan minister told Mr Deora that Islamabad was ready for talks some time in the first week of February.

“Both discussed the possibility of settling the transit fee issue and also the price revision clause sought to be introduced in the contract by Iran,” The Hindu said.

The United States has mounted pressure on India to abandon the project with Iran.