'India must adopt independent approach on Iran'

Dubai, June 15: Iran Parliament (Majlis) speaker, Gholamali Haddad-Adel, has said Iran expects India to adopt a more ''independent'' stance regarding Tehran's peaceful nuclear activities in the international fora.

At a meeting with India's ambassador to Iran, Manbir Singh, he said India was among the founder-members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) led by eminent politicians such as the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

''Such politicians always underlined peace and friendship, and preserved the independence of India against global powers, Tehran Times quoted him as saying during the meeting yesterday.

''Promoting the Farsi language (in India) along with sound two-way cultural ties is necessary for better understanding the brilliant pasts of Iranian and Indian civilisations,''he added.

Referring to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, the speaker said, Tehran always stressed that its gas supplies would secure India's energy needs.

While rejecting reports of India refusing to finalise the contract Mr Singh said the impasse over Iran's nuclear programme should be resolved through diplomatic means.

UNI