(www.irna.ir) вЂ" Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee left here earlier today for a two-day visit to Tehran.
Mukherjee, during his visit, will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and call on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other leaders.
Mukherjee's visit is part of the regular process of high-level exchanges between the two countries. This is his first visit to Iran since becoming external affairs minister.
India and Iran are expected to discuss two multi-billion-dollar gas deals including a pipeline that will cross Pakistan to help meet demand of energy-hungry India, reports Trend.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had earlier visited India on November 16-17, 2006.
During Mottaki's visit, it was felt that the economic potential of the relationship needed to be actualized to the maximum. In this regard, the possibilities of closer cooperation in the field of energy, including the status of the proposed IPI pipeline, were reviewed.
Mukerjee, in parleys with his Iranian counterpart, pointed out that Indian companies were keen to invest in Iran and that early conclusion of a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement as well as an agreement for avoidance of double taxation would provide the necessary juridical basis for promoting such investment.
The two sides also discussed regional issues, including Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.