AFP: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was travelling to India Tuesday for a series of trade and political talks, official media reported. TEHRAN, July 18, 2006 (AFP) – Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was travelling to India Tuesday for a series of trade and political talks, official media reported.
The state news agency IRNA said Mottaki would be meeting high-ranking officials to discuss “economic relations and significant mutual, regional and international issues.”
“The main objective of this visit is to expand economic and political relations with India and to review the latest developments in relations between the two countries,” IRNA said, but gave no further details.
Iran’s relationship wih India has soured in recent months over New Delhi’s support for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calls for Tehran to freeze its controversial nuclear programme as well as the UN watchdog’s decision to report the issue to the Security Council.
The issue is now back at the Security Council after Iran failed to respond to an international offer of incentives in exchange for a halt in uranium enrichment — a process that can be extended to make weapons.
Iran insists it only wants to make reactor fuel.
A major contract to pipe Iranian gas — through a 2,600 kilometre (1,600 mile) pipeline — to India via Pakistan has also hit snags.
Last month the Islamic republic complained that India was unwilling to pay the asking price.
