NEW DELHI, 1 May 2008 — Describing India and Iran as true friends, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad admitted that India’s vote against Iran on the nuclear issue did have an impact, but that relations between the two countries were “very deep and historical.”

“Every vote has an impact. Relations between India and Iran are much deeper. The issue is related to the past, we are looking forward to building better relations,” said the Iranian president.

Despite Ahmadinejad’s visit being a brief one, lasting only a few hours, it definitely added a new momentum to Indo-Iranian ties. India not only defied US pressure, but also took all possible measures to accord as much importance to the visit as possible.

Ahmadinejad told a press conference on Tuesday night that “mismanagement” was the major cause behind the worsening situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The occupation forces should leave the region at the earliest possible and power should be handed to the people,” he said.

On a question concerning an Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, the Iranian president said, “Ministers from the three countries hope to reach a tripartite agreement in the next 45 days.” Regarding a suggestion to extend the pipeline to China, he said, “We have received one proposal. We will evaluate it and consider its merit, and evaluate all aspects of the proposal.”

The pipeline project was also discussed at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

With the ambitious pipeline project held in abeyance because of differences over cost, Manmohan and Ahmadinejad reviewed its progress. The proposed $7.5 billion project to transport gas to India and Pakistan is viewed as crucial.

If work on the 2,600-km pipeline, as scheduled, begins in 2009, it is expected to finish in 2012. Initially, it is to transport 60 million cubic meters of gas daily to Pakistan and India, half for each country. Later, the pipeline’s capacity will increase to 150 million cubic meters.

On Iran’s nuclear policy, Ahmadinejad said that India has “officially supported” Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear activity. To a question on US concern about Iran’s nuclear intentions, he replied that New Delhi had already given “a very good and appropriate response to the other side.”