Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has thanked Indonesia for abstaining from a vote last week on a U.N. resolution that imposes new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program.
Mr. Ahmadinejad made the comments Tuesday in Tehran while meeting with visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Iran's state news agency, IRNA, says Mr. Ahmadinejad also described Iran and Indonesia as strong leaders in the Islamic world. It quotes him as saying that promoting bilateral relations would benefit other Muslim countries.
IRNA reports Iranian and Indonesian officials signed cooperation agreements Tuesday in Tehran in the fields of energy, agriculture, and business and academic work.
The resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council last week authorizes a third set of sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear activities. Indonesia is a non-permanent member of the council.
Iran has dismissed the sanctions as "worthless" and says it will continue enriching uranium, a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons.
The United States and its Western allies accuse Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover to develop atomic weapons.
Iran says the program is intended for peaceful purposes.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
