India supports Russian initiative on Iran
N Bhadran Nair

    New Delhi: New Delhi today endorsed the Russian initiative to resolve the Iran nuclear crisis. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said India "welcomes all initiatives, including from Russia, which could enable a consensus on the issue." Russia had offered to enrich uranium for Iran under a joint venture in its facilities in a bid to diffuse the stand off. India's stand on the Iranian imbroglio comes after US envoy's comments linking the proposed Indo-US agreement on nuclear energy co-operation with its stand on Iran's nuclear issue at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    In an obvious reference to the hardening stand of the US, New Delhi said, "all concerned countries should avoid confrontation" and strive for a "mutually acceptable solution". India has also reiterated its stand of Iran's right to "develop peaceful use of nuclear energy for its development consistent with its international obligations and commitments." It also welcomed Iran's softening of stand and offer to work together with the IAEA to remove any outstanding issues. Earlier in the day the French President's diplomatic advisor Maurice Gourdault Montagne called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and discussed the issue, as EU3 - Germany, France and Britain - is readying with its resolution to refer Iran to the UN Security Council at the IAEA board meeting on February 2. The ruling dispensation in New Delhi is also under tremendous pressure from its Left allies, which have urged the government not to vote against Iran at the upcoming meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog. The Left parties have raised their ante against any move by New Delhi supporting the EU3 resolution as it did last September. These parties are also peeved at the alacrity of US Ambassador to New Delhi David C. Mulford's warning. Though Mulford later retraced his comments and said he had been quoted out of context, he was summoned to the Foreign Office and conveyed its disgust as his comments "were inappropriate and not conducive to building a strong partnership between our two independent democracies."

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