Backing Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, India has said that "no country can put pressure" on Tehran in that respect as it sought establishment of strategic partnership with the oil-rich Persian country.

Foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, who was in Tehran for talks on expansion of ties in energy and other fields, emphasised that the issue of Iran's controversial nuclear programme should be investigated "only" by IAEA.

Seeking upgradation of Indo-Iran ties, which have not been "satisfactory" over the last two years, Tehran said the two countries should not allow "any foreign powers" to harm their bilateral relations, in an apparent reference to the US.

"India supports Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy," Menon was quoted by Iranian news agency RNA as saying.

"No country can put pressure on Tehran in that respect," said the foreign secretary, who was here on a three-day visit for Foreign Office consultations.

Amid threats against Iran by the US, India has been voicing its opposition to use of "coercive" means and maintained that the nuclear row be resolved through dialogue under the IAEA framework.

Menon, who held talks with Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki and Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari during his three-day visit, described Iran as a "factor of stability and security in the region".

He said India and Iran were "important and stable governments" which can help increase stability in the region by establishing strong bilateral ties.

"India is interested in establishing a strategic partnership with Iran in the areas of energy and transport," Menon said, adding New Delhi wants to use the Persian country's high economic, political and cultural potential to expand the ties.

The two countries have been in talks for setting up a gas pipeline that will pass through Pakistan. The proposed project, which has got delayed due to differences over pricing, also came up for discussion at Menon's meetings.

Mottaki called Menon's visit to Tehran a demonstration of friendship between the two nations, which enjoy millennia of relations.

"We should not let any foreign powers to harm existing ties between the two countries," the Iranian minister said.

Mottaki called on the two sides to take more concrete steps to revive the two countries' relations and properly take advantage of each other's capabilities.

Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili has said that cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi would promote multi-lateralism in the world. In light of their longstanding historical ties and current potential, the two countries should plan for extensive long-term cooperation, Jalili said.

During the meeting, Jalili said expansion of cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi, as two major power in the region and the world, could lead to upgrading their capacity for developing multilateral cooperation.

Menon earlier met Head of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

The two sides discussed exchange of visits by political and economic delegations, the holding of the 15th joint economic committee meeting, and implementation of the projects in energy, mine, steel, aluminum, and transport industries.