Unfazed by the growing proximity between New Delhi and Washington, Iran on Friday said its relations with India will remain unaffected by any third country and indicated support to India's quest for civil nuclear energy.
"We are working to build on our very good relations with India. We do not want to have good relations with India that will be against any third country. We don't want that," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in New Delhi.
"At the same time, Iran and India will not allow a third country to negatively affect our good relations," he said when asked whether he thought growing Indo-US relations could have an impact on ties between Tehran and New Delhi.
He said: "India is indeed a big and great country, which will conduct
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Mottaki's comments assume significance considering that the US has been seeking to discourage India from pursuing its relations with Iran, particularly in the economic and commercial field.
The relations between India and Iran had witnessed a strain after New Delhi voted against Tehran's nuclear programme at the International Atomic Energy Agency meetings in February and August.
After these votings, Iran had questioned the basis of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, saying it reflected double standards of Washington. Asked whether Iran still nursed the anguish against India, Mottaki said: "We look to the future and envisage a clear and promising future for bilateral relations."
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