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Nearly three weeks after the International Atomic Energy Agency voted to report Iran's nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council, India on Thursday favoured flexibility to find a solution to the issue and said all sides should 'eschew confrontation' and 'exercise restraint.'
Complete Coverage: The Iran Vote & After
The Indian side conveyed this during talks visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari had with Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran in New Delhi.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and an early ratification of the LNG deal already signed between the two countries, external affairs ministry said in a statement.
The two sides had a comprehensive review of bilateral ties and agreed to continue cooperation in all areas of mutual interest and benefit, including in the energy field, it said.
"On the Iran issue in the IAEA, the Indian side emphasised the need for all sides to eschew confrontation, exercise restraint and demonstrate flexibility in order to find a solution," the statement said.
At the February 2-4 IAEA meeting, India had joined 26 other countries to vote for reporting of Iran's controversial nuclear programme to the UN Security Council.
Safari arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit, being undertaken in the context of regular interaction between the two Foreign Ministries aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.