The Hindu

India's ties with Iran as strong as ever: Ahamed

22 February 2006

TEHERAN: In the first high-level contact between the two countries since the February 4 International Atomic Energy Agency's vote, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed met Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and said bilateral relations could not be "spoiled by anybody."

"The relationship between India and Iran is very old and deep-rooted, true and natural, and it will remain so for long and cannot be spoiled by anybody," said Mr. Ahamed as he called on the Iranian President here.

"The relationship between the two countries is diverse and [they] cannot be divorced from one another," he said. The meeting came two days ahead of a debate in Parliament on India's stand over the Iran nuclear programme. At the February 4 IAEA voting, India joined 26 other countries in favouring reporting of Iran's nuclear programme to the U.N. Security Council.

Mr. Ahamed, who was warmly received at the presidential palace in Teheran, told the Iranian leader that India was also looking forward to the implementation of the gas pipeline project involving Iran, India and Pakistan, a view shared by the Iranian President. Iran's Foreign Minister Mottakki and Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Sheikh Attar were present at the meeting, an official statement said.

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