Iran, India to counter 'Taliban threat'

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Fathollahi (R)
meets with India's Foreign Minister S M Krishna



Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137632§ionid=351020101


Top Iranian and Indian officials have agreed to "counter the threat of Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan" and boost their economic and energy ties.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Fathollahi met with Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao in New Delhi where the two sides discussed a range of issues from cooperation in establishing regional security to expanding bilateral ties.

"Ways to stem the influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and its backers in Pakistan figured prominently in the discussions," Sify News quoted informed sources as saying on Thursday.

The sources added that Tehran and India agreed "to stay in close touch over Afghanistan to safeguard their interests in the wake of the Taliban reintegration process."

Last month, Iranian and Indian officials also reached consensus on pressing forward with the India-aided Iranian Chabahar port to ease New Delhi's access to both Afghanistan and Central Asia.

"They also decided to firm up a regional approach that will include closer cooperation with Russia in averting a Taliban takeover that some fear may happen after US troops begin to withdraw from that country," the report said.

India sees Iranian cooperation crucial to preventing Taliban militants from gaining control of Afghanistan.

Iran's IRNA news agency also reported on Fathollahi talks with India's Foreign Minister S M Krishnaon on a wide range of bilateral issues, including energy and economic ties.

China defends economic ties with Iran

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137519§ionid=351020102


China has defended its economic ties with Iran after a senior US official called on Beijing to adopt the UN sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program.


According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, Beijing's business relations with Tehran will not harm the interests of other countries.


"China's trade with Iran is a normal business exchange, which will not harm the interests of other countries and the international community," China Daily quoted Jiang as saying on Thursday.


The Chinese official made the remarks in response to comments made by Robert Einhorn, US State Department's special adviser for non-proliferation and arms control, who asked Beijing to observe sanctions against the Islamic Republic.


The US has stepped up pressure on other countries to restrict economic relations with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program, spearheading efforts to approve a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran at the UN Security Council in June.


The United States also called on China to impose further punitive measures against the Islamic Republic, but China has rejected the unilateral US and EU sanctions aimed at Iran's energy sector.


China, the world's second-greatest consumer of oil after the United States, is the premier importer of Iran's oil. Iran exported more than 9 million tons of oil to China in the first half of 2010, putting it behind Saudi Arabia and Angola, according to Chinese customs data.


Iran's Deputy Oil Minister, Hossein Noqrehkar Shirazi, announced on Saturday that China is investing 40 billion dollars in Iran's oil and gas industry.