Accord With Soviets on New Oil Outlet Reported by Tehran

Iran said Wednesday that a preliminary agreement has been reached with the Soviet Union for a converted trans-Soviet gas pipeline to transport Iranian oil to the Black Sea.

Hussein Kazempour Ardebili, a deputy oil minister, was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency as saying the pipeline could be operating in three months.

There was no immediate Soviet confirmation of his statements. However, the Soviets, seeking better relations with their southern Islamic neighbor, have disclosed that Moscow and Tehran are negotiating the reopening of the pipeline and a possible second railway link.