The decision is in "compliance" with the UN Security Council resolution adopted last year.

A notification issued by the Indian Director General of Foreign Trade said "direct or indirect export and import of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities or to the development of nuclear weapons delivery system whether or not originating in Iran, to/from Iran is prohibited".

However, there will be some exception such as equipment meant for light water reactors and low-enriched uranium when it is incorporated in assembled nuclear fuel elements for such reactors, it said.

Iran's controversial nuclear programme has been a bone of contention for the Congress-led UPA government in India with its key ally the Left parties opposed to New Delhi's stand at the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors meeting.

The Indian ban on the export of the materials came ahead of New Delhi and Washington resuming negotiations to operationalise Indo-US civil nuclear deal passed by the US Congress last year.

India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited Iran recently and Tehran's nuclear issue was among the subjects, which figured high in his talks with Iranian leaders.

India, along with Pakistan, is in talks with Tehran for importing natural gas via a pipeline from the Gulf country. But the negotiations are stuck on the issue of pricing of the gas.