Tehran, Feb 24: Iran's top nuclear negotiator and the head of its Supreme National Security Council, Hassan Rowhani, leaves for India on Wednesday on a three day trip for talks with Indian officials, the official news agency IRNA said on Tuesday. Rowhani would hold talks with Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha and Defence Minister George Fernandes, the agency said.

Iran's nuclear programme has been under international scrutiny in recent months. In November, the International Atomic Energy Agency blamed Tehran for 18 years of covert nuclear activities, although a report said there was no clear evidence Iran has been developing nuclear arms. Iran has recently acknowledged it had been acquiring nuclear technology on the black market. Bureau Report