Armed with the House of Representatives' nod to the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed happiness that "one hurdle" has been crossed but said he would wait for the final outcome as he described the landmark agreement as an important "strategic pillar" to bilateral ties.

"I am happy that one hurdle has been crossed but I think that is not the end of the legislative process. So we will wait for the final outcome," the Prime Minister told reporters accompanying him on his trip to France at the end of his five-day US visit.

The Indian camp appeared much relieved after the House clearance to the deal following a lot of suspense and drama that saw Democrat Ed Markey voicing stiff opposition and Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, another critic, dropping references to Iran and presenting a bill identical to the version passed by a Senate panel.

The Senate is expected to vote on the 123 agreement on Monday.

After making a brief statement, the Prime Minister took only two questions from the accompanying media - one relating to the nuclear deal and another on the Mehrauli terror blast in Delhi on Saturday.

Singh said his visit to Washington was designed to review the state of Indo-US relations in the background of the July 18, 2005 statement on the nuclear deal between the two countries.

"Both President George W Bush and I expressed satisfaction at the way relations have progressed," Singh, who met the US President in Washington on Thursday, said.