"We began the project as soon as the feasibility studies ended and the winner of the tender took charge of affairs," he said. Roknoddin Javadi, who heads the National Iranian Gas Exports Co, said that studies by the Russian company Gazprom on possible gas exports to Armenia would have no implications on the Tehran-Yerevan deal. "Gazprom will be involved mostly in projects related to domestic gas supply network in Armenia," he said, going on to confirm that a new oil-swap deal has been struck with Azerbaijan. "Based on the agreement, Iran will transfer gas from Astara to Nakhichevan, and receive the transit fee from Azerbaijan." Meanwhile, high-profile talks are underway with New Delhi and Islamabad on gas exports to India via a pipeline crossing Pakistan; at present, Iran only exports gas via pipeline to Turkey. Turkey, the largest buyer of Iranian gas, began purchases totalling 4 billion cum in 2001 under a 25-year deal. It is expected to raise its purchase from Iran to 10 billion cum in 2007 from 6.689 billion cum in 2005. However, the country is reportedly preparing to resort to international arbitration after negotiations failed to settle the price of natural gas from its second-biggest supplier, Iran. The Turkish government said last year it would resort to international arbitration after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to persuade Tehran to cut prices.