AFP: Iran’s foreign minister, who was due in India for a two-day visit, has cancelled his trip because of the situation in the Middle East. NEW DELHI (AFP) – Iran’s foreign minister, who was due in India for a two-day visit, has cancelled his trip because of the situation in the Middle East.
“The Iranian government has informed us that the Foreign Minister of Iran, Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki … has postponed his visit due to the situation,” an Indian foreign ministry statement said Wednesday.
Iran has proposed that the talks be rescheduled, amid a growing Middle Eastern crisis. No fresh dates have been announced by either side.
Mottaki was to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Petroleum Minister Murli Deora.
Iran’s controversial nuclear programme and a proposed seven-billion-dollar gas pipeline to India through Pakistan were expected to have dominated the agenda during Mottaki’s visit.
Singh on Tuesday said that India favoured dialogue rather than coercive diplomacy to resolve the controversy over Iran’s nuclear programme.
