India has reassured Iran that unilateral sanctions against the Persian nation is not going to impact upon its legitimate trade interests with it. Talking to media after talks with the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in New Delhi today, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna made it clear that Iran remained India's important source for oil given the growing domestic demand for crude.
Asked about the US sanctions on Iran and its affect on trade, Krishna said India has always abided by the United
Nations Security Council resolutions on the Iran issue.Mr.Krishna said,Iran is an important neighbour and crucial trade partner for India, and also a major source of our energy supplies, adding the Persian nation was also a gateway for India to Central Asia.
Both the leaders also discussed threats the two nations faced from terrorism and extremism.Mr.Krishna asserted that India and Iran share an interest in the stability of Central Asia and the Gulf.
On Nuclear issue,Mr.Krishna reiterated that India has always held that the nuclear issue should be resolved through peaceful diplomacy and the framework of the IAEA provides the best forum to address the technical aspects
of the issue.
Mr.Salehi underlined that Iran has been a reliable partner for India on matters of energy security and will continue to
be so.He also urged India to look at energy resources that were reliable.
He also briefed Krishna on the recent discussions between Iran and the P5+1 in Baghdad on Tehran's nuclear programme.
On the importance of NAM, Mr.Salehi underlined the need for a voice for developing nations to speak for justice,
fairness and equal sharing of management of world affairs.
Asked about allegations against Iran in connection with the attack on an Israeli diplomat here in February, the visiting minister refuted them and said that Iran need not bother itself on such charges.
AIR correspondent reports,Mr.Salehi is in India as a Special Envoy of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinijad to extend an invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit to be held in Tehran in August.He is scheduled to meet Dr.Singh tomorrow.
