Iran’s Shahram Nazeri is receiving the French Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for his achievements in traditional Persian music.

Non-oil trade between Iran and Thailand grew to $410 million in the first half of this year, up 75 per cent over the comparable 2006 figure of $234.60m, the Iranian ambassador to Thailand said on Saturday.

The Bush administration wants India to help get Iran to curtail its nuclear progress, while many in India are resisting what they see as the US meddling in Indian foreign affairs.