Iranian Foreign Minister to visit India from July 18

New Delhi, Jul 11 (UNI) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will arrive here on July 18 on a three-day visit during which he will have discussions with Indian leaders on the vexed nuclear issue and the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

This will be his first official visit to India as the Foreign Minister of Iran.

Sources said the Iranian Foreign Minister is likely to meet Minister of State for External Affairs. It could not be, however, confirmed whether he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He is also expected to visit Gujarat and Mumbai.

The US, with which India has a Civilian nuclear agreement, has often indicated displeasure about the IPI project. India has, however, expressed commitment to the pipeline project.

The visit comes a day after the G-8 Summit and Iran, in apprehension of a decision by the G-8, has launched a major diplomatic initiative with its Chief Nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani holding talks with EU Foreign and Security Commissioner Javier Solana in Brussels.

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