New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) A week after banning the export of nuclear material to Iran, India's Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed leaves Monday on a crucial four-day visit to Tehran during which he is expected to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

"I am representing the government at a three-day conference of Indian Ocean Rim countries in Tehran," Ahamed told IANS Saturday.

Ahamed said the meeting with Mottaki would be an opportunity for New Delhi to reiterate the need for strengthening its traditional relations with Iran.

The bilateral meetings will take place on the sidelines of the conference of 18 Indian Ocean Rim countries, which is aimed at exploring ways to promote cooperation, particularly trade and commerce, among them.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited Tehran in February during which Mottaki announced that there would be a trilateral summit to finalise the proposed 2,700-km-long gas pipeline from Iran to India through Pakistan.

New Delhi last week banned the export of any material and technology to Tehran that could help in the development of its nuclear weapons programme.

The ban was in compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, imposed last month, which mandated economic and other sanctions till Iran stopped its nuclear enrichment and activities related to the development of research reactors.