TEHRAN -- The Secretary of Iranian Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rowhani on Tuesday held talks with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and discussed bilateral as well as security issues in the region.

In this meeting Vajpayee said New Delhi is interested in expansion of ties with Tehan in all different areas.

Vajpayee said his country is willing to invest in Iranian oil, gas and petrochemical projects.

The prime minister said India seeks freindship with all its neighbors. He said economic growth will not be possible without peace and security in the region.

Touching on New Delhi-Islamabad border tensions he said India is prepared to hold negotiations with Pakistan in all areas including Kashmir but terrorism has prevented them from doing so.

The Indian pirme minister referred to the Middle East crisis and said New Delhi has always called for the restoration of all the Palestinian people's rights and it is seeking the same policy now.

At the meeting The Iranian SNSC Chief Rowhani also pointed to the recent developments in Iran-India relations and said the pipeline transfer of Iranian gas to India is one of the strategic projects which the two countries eagerly follow.

Rowhani said Iran will welcome the expansion of political, economic defense and security ties with India.

The SNSC official praised the Iran-India joint cooperation in Afghan developments and said the organized campaign against terrorism in the international and regional level is the cornerstone of Tehran-New Delhi relations.

Rowhani said the presence of foreign troops in the region would strengthen the emergence of terrorism and called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the region.