NEW DELHI -- Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Hassan Rowhani, in a meeting with his Indian counterpart Brajesh Mishra on Tuesday, emphasized on the expansion of relations between the two countries in all spheres.

Mishra after the three-hour meeting with Rowhani said there are large potentials for the expansion of bilateral relations in strategic, political, security, and economic arenas between Tehran and New Delhi.

India's National Security Adviser, who is also the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, India and Iran have strong relations and "our relations would not be impinged by third countries".

Mishra also conveyed to the Iranian counterpart Indian government's decision on starting the direct air flights between the capitals of the two countries and said, the exim (export-import) bank of India is ready to give a $200 million credit for this purpose.

Mishra said that cooperation in some of the areas like transit, transport and tourism will strengthen the economic relations between the two countries.

Stating that India's concerns in Afghanistan crisis is still persisting, Mishra said, "Afghanistan's cordial relations with all its neighbors and non-interference of other countries in its affairs is vital for India." Emphasizing on the impartiality of Afghanistan, Mishra said, "using Afghan soil for malicious purposes is a dangerous trend. the coexistence and unity among various sections of the Afghan society is a key to the stability in that country." Mishra, justifying Tehran's concerns about tension between India and Pakistan said, "New Delhi does not have any interest in war or occupying parts of Pakistani territory and only wants a stop to cross border terrorism for the improvement of relations between the two countries." Rowhani, while referring to the importance of security and intelligence cooperation between Iran and India, said strategic cooperation in the field of energy is one of important priorities for the two countries.

Calling North-South corridor as important for revival of the economy of the region, Rowhani said it was the need of the hour to change the present trade relations between the two countries into deep economic relations, adding that joint investments by the two countries was a necessity for deepening the relations.

Rowhani said both countries have common goals and interests which necessitate the expansion of the strategic relations among them.

Emphasizing on the cooperation between India and Iran on regional issues, Rowhani said, "Iran's concerns on some development relating to Afghanistan like return of refugees, terrorism and drug trafficking are still persisting and the recent developments have not changed the scenario." Supporting steps taken by Hamid Karzai's government in Afghanistan, Rowhani said that the international community had not given enough aid to Afghanistan, therefore forging cooperation between India and Iran in the process of reconstruction of Afghanistan would be effective.

Peace in Asia is vital for global peace, Rowhani said, adding that since there is a direct relation between the security in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, active cooperation and consultation between India and Iran is important in this context.

Rowhani, who arrived here Monday afternoon on an invitation from India's National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra for a four-day official visit, will meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee yesterday evening.

thr 061 india-rowhani /pol/ rowhani discusses regional situation with indian counterpart new delhi, june 25, irna -- iran's supreme national security council secretary, hassan rowhani, in a meeting with his indian counterpart brajesh mishra on tuesday, emphasized on the expansion of relations between the two countries in all spheres.

mishra after the three-hour meeting with rowhani said there are large potentials for the expansion of bilateral relations in strategic, political, security, and economic arenas between tehran and new delhi.

india's national security adviser, who is also the principal secretary to prime minister atal bihari vajpayee said, india and iran have strong relations and "our relations would not be impinged by third countries".

mishra also conveyed to the iranian counterpart indian government's decision on starting the direct air flights between the capitals of the two countries and said, the exim (export-import) bank of india is ready to give a $200 million credit for this purpose.

mishra said that cooperation in some of the areas like transit, transport and tourism will strengthen the economic relations between the two countries.

stating that india's concerns in afghanistan crisis is still persisting, mishra said, "afghanistan's cordial relations with all its neighbors and non-interference of other countries in its affairs is vital for india." emphasizing on the impartiality of afghanistan, mishra said, "using afghan soil for malicious purposes is a dangerous trend. the coexistence and unity among various sections of the afghan society is a key to the stability in that country." mishra, justifying tehran's concerns about tension between india and pakistan said, "new delhi does not have any interest in war or occupying parts of pakistani territory and only wants a stop to cross border terrorism for the improvement of relations between the two countries." iran's supreme national security council adviser, while referring to the importance of security and intelligence cooperation between iran and india, said strategic cooperation in the field of energy is one of important priorities for the two countries.

calling north-south corridor as important for revival of the economy of the region, rowhani said it was the need of the hour to change the present trade relations between the two countries into deep economic relations, adding that joint investments by the two countries was a necessity for deepening the relations.

rowhani said both countries have common goals and interests which necessitate the expansion of the strategic relations among them.

emphasizing on the cooperation between india and iran on regional issues, rowhani said, "iran's concerns on some development relating to afghanistan like return of refugees, terrorism and drug trafficking are still persisting and the recent developments have not changed the scenario." supporting steps taken by hamid karzai's government in afghanistan, rowhani said that the international community had not given enough aid to afghanistan, therefore forging cooperation between india and iran in the process of reconstruction of afghanistan would be effective.

peace in asia is vital for global peace, rowhani said, adding that since there is a direct relation between the security in the indian ocean and persian gulf, active cooperation and consultation between india and iran is important in this context.

rowhani, who arrived here monday afternoon on an invitation from india's national security adviser brajesh mishra for a four-day official visit, will meet prime minister atal bihari vajpayee this evening.