Pledging to further strengthen and expand mutual cooperation and strategic partnership, External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh today arrived on a three-day visit to Iran, marking India’s first high-level political contact with the country’s new government.Immediately after his arrival, Singh, who was received at the airport by his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, drove to the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini and laid a wreath there.Mottaki said the two countries had ‘‘very good’’ bilateral ties and the Indian leader’s visit would mark a new era in bilateral relations. ‘‘I am sure, we will witness strengthening of relations during this visit and discuss issues in great detail,’’ he said.Singh will call on President Mahmud Ahmedinejad tomorrow and hold talks with Mottaki on bilateral relations and regional and international matters of mutual concern, including the nuclear issue. He is also scheduled to meet Iran’s new chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani tomorrow.The proposed $7.4-billion Iran-India gas pipeline will also figure in the deliberations.Later in the day, visiting the only gurdwara here, Singh assured the Sikh community comprising 250 families that it would consider their demand for dual citizenship and take up the issue wkith Iran.
