BEIJING - China wants to have closer military ties with Iran, the Chinese defence minister told the visiting head of the Iranian navy on Thursday, state media reported, reaffirming Beijing's diplomatic links with Tehran despite controversy over its nuclear plans.

Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan told Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari that the two armed forces have seen "good cooperation on mutual visits, personnel training and other fields in recent years", the official Xinhua news agency reported.

"Exchanges between the two navies have been fruitful and their warships have paid successful visits to each other," it paraphrased Chang as saying.

"Chang ... stressed China is willing to work with Iran to further pragmatic cooperation and strengthen military-to-military ties."