Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani held talks with External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh on Wednesday in New Delhi on strategic partnership, particularly in the field of energy.

Larijani, who was deputed to New Delhi just 2 days ahead of Singh's visit to his country, told reporters that cooperation between "important countries like Iran and India" was essential for promoting regional security.

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"The focus of our negotiations with India is on strategic relations, particularly in the field of energy and more particularly, on a natural gas pipeline and the liquefied natural gas supply to India," he said after meeting the external affairs minister.

The 2 countries are currently negotiating setting up of a 2,775 km-long gas pipeline at a cost of 7.4 billion dollar from Iran to India.

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The issue is expected to figure in the talks that Singh will have during his 3-day visit to Iran from Friday.

The visit will mark India's first high-level political contact with the new government of that country.

Replying to questions, Larijani said Iran wanted to cooperate in a "serious way" with the International Atomic Energy Association and is committed to international regulations on nuclear proliferation.

"We are fully committed and bound by international regulations to the nuclear field," he said, adding, "what is important is to continue our cooperation in a serious way with the IAEA."

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