Ahmadinejad wants better India ties, warns of global collapse

Ahmadinejad met visiting India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and said: "Iran and India following a humane view on international relations should make efforts for establishment of the world's future system based on justice and friendship."

"The world's ruling system is on the verge of collapse and what is important is the way of formation of future system," he said Monday.

"Iran and India are two independent countries which play a leading part in international ties," he added.

Ahmadinejad also called for employment of all potentials to boost the level of bilateral cooperation with India, ISNA, Iran's semi-official news agency, reported.

Menon on his part said cooperation with Iran is one of priorities for his country. "India is after establishment of strategic and all-out relations with Iran," the Indian official said. The Indian official also stressed further ties between the two countries in other fields.

Menon arrived in Tehran carrying a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed to Ahmadinejad. The contents of the letter have not been made public.

Iran has shown interest to improve ties with India in recent weeks.

The compulsions of the global oil market put Iran above Saudi Arabia as the biggest source of India’s oil needs in 2009. Oil accounts for 75 percent of India-Iran trade.