India moves away from Iran N-tangle

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-...-away-from-Iran-N-tangle/Article1-527143.aspx

India moves away from Iran N-tangle

In a nuanced effort to distance itself from the West’s aggressive stand on the Iran nuclear issue, New Delhi on Sunday said the nuclear security summit in Washington to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not country-specific.

India said it hoped the summit would strengthen “international resolve to cooperate on nuclear security and supporting the expanded use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes”.

Iran and North Korea, two countries that have fissile material, are not among the 42 countries the US has invited for the summit, which comes in the wake of increased US efforts to impose sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programme.

Asked if the role of countries such as Iran and Pakistan in nuclear proliferation were being discussed ahead of the meet, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, also a sherpa for the summit, said the summit was not “country-specific” and the focus was on “global efforts to address the issue of nuclear security.”

Rao also cited the “extensive bilateral ties between India and Iran” and that Iran was an “important country in the region” and a “responsible country.”

New Delhi has suggested its willingness to set up a nuclear security centre ahead of the summit. The meet will discuss national measures and international cooperative mechanisms to deal with threats from nuclear terrorism.

“Nuclear terrorism is a global challenge and we see the summit and its associated preparatory process as important elements in strengthening international resolve to cooperate on nuclear security and supporting the expanded use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” Rao said.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special...-Iran-despite-US-pressure/UPI-81991270484844/

India warms to Iran despite U.S. pressure

NEW DELHI, April 5 (UPI) -- New Delhi officials said they would attend a multilateral nuclear summit in Tehran despite Western pressure to isolate Iran from the international community.

Tehran announced during the weekend that it would invite 60 countries to attend what Iranian officials describe as a two-day disarmament summit scheduled to start April 17.

The Indian ambassador to Tehran is expected to attend the summit in Tehran, the Calcutta Telegraph reports.

New Delhi in 2006 voted against Iran in a nuclear measure before the International Atomic Energy Agency and again in November 2009. The 2006 vote was seen as a tacit support for political change in Iran during a low point in U.S.-Iranian relations.

The Tehran visit would follow a similar conference scheduled next week in Washington, where Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to attend.

India officials, meanwhile, are wary over U.S.-supported plans to incorporate moderate elements of the Taliban into the political fray in Afghanistan.

New Delhi said recently it was scaling back its mission in Afghanistan temporarily following heightened security concerns.

India, also to the detriment of Washington, said it would take another look at plans to build a natural gas pipeline through Iran and Pakistan.

Washington opposes the project, dubbed the Peace Pipeline, because of the economic incentives for Iran.

 

[ajtr]

Its nice that india is warming up to iran.USA at one point want Indian savings to be invested in its Financial firms(this being the top agenda of US Treasury secretary Timothy F. Geithner visit to india Geithner will press case for US finance cos ) on the other hand usa wants india to pander to pakistan by pressurizing india for peace talks and reducing troops in kashmir( Pentagon for pressure on India to ease tension with Pakistan: WSJ ,, US wants troop cut in Kashmir to win Afghan war ,, Indo-Pak ties and the US: Obama issues secret directive ) so our don quixotic Obama can complete his cycle of AF-PAK->PAK-AF->FAK-AP.

India at this time needs 180 deg turn in foreign policy away from usa.

 

[Yusuf]

Its good that india is not blindly following the US. Good that india is attending the tehran thing and see what comes out of it. India can use its relationship with US and Iran and offer a middle path. May be india can broker a deal with iran. We offer them nuke plants using our good offices, take care of the fuel etc... India gets to make a buck and also keep all sides happy.

 

[pankaj nema]

Well in diplomacy you just say nice things even if you dont mean it . India has to "manage" its relations
with both Iran and US.
This nuclear tangle is none of our business. whether it is resolved peacefully or thru sanctions or war .
our interest in Iran is
1. Afghanistan. Iran provides a land route to our 10 consulates who are "promoting" Indo afghan relations
and giving heart aches and head aches to Pakistan.
2. In case there are sanctions and Iranian economy collapses, then after sanctions are lifted there will be
scramble for oil fields as is happening in Iraq , where western companies are ruling.
But Iran will prefer India and China in future for developing its economy.

 

[JAISWAL]

Indian response on iranian nuke talk could be a milestone in indian forgien affair as it help Indian to cement its stand in asia region also help in eassing tension between iran and west as India is close to both and can mediate in this mater . Pluse it also help Indian companies as they may have another market in nuke coporation . What u say

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_iran-to-be-india-s-main-theme-at-bric-summit_1370306

Iran to be India's main theme at Bric summit

New Delhi: With the US threatening fresh action against its defiant president Ahmedinejad, Iran will figure prominently on the agenda at the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Summit on April 16.
Prime minister Manmohan Singh will be talking to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese president Hu Jintao and Brazil’s Luiz Lula da Silva on Iran and its economic crisis. He will also take up the West Asia crisis that is playing spoilsport to efforts of peace talks with Israel.

India has been caught in a bind on Iran issue. Discussing the issue of fresh sanctions with Hu and Medvedev will give India a chance to nuance its position on this delicate question and form an opinion keeping in mind China and Russia, two of Iran’s
friends.

India has long civilisational links with Tehran. Blips appeared after India voted twice against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and supported the US decision to drag Iran to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for refusing to abide by its commitment not to go ahead with its nuclear programme. The programme was suspected to be aimed at acquiring bomb making potential. By voting against Iran, India hoped to please the Bush administration, which was going out of its way to let India come out of its nuclear isolation.

New Delhi later went into a long-winded explanation on why it broke ranks with an old friend. As there is a sizeable Muslim population in India, the ruling Congress coalition feared it might lose votes in the 2009 election. Both Iran and India tried to repair the damage, but the cracks remain.

Now with fresh sanctions against Iran, New Delhi would be glad to talk to the BRIC members and try to get a sense of Russia and China’s stance.

Unlike Britain, France, Germany and other western democracies, which have sided openly with the US, BRIC is much more sympathetic in its approach to Iran. As members of the UNSC with veto rights, Russia and China have consistently bailed out Iran from harsher sanctions. Brazil too is now in the UNSC and will play a role at the UN on the Iran crisis.

The Obama administration has been pressing both Russia and China to allow fresh sanctions in the face of president Ahmedinejad’s refusal to stop enriching uranium and abide by the UN mandate. National security advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon will also be in Brasilia for a meeting on security of the BRIC representatives.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal...y-to-go-in-iran-india-tells-us_100346855.html

Sanctions no way to go in Iran, India tells US

By Manish Chand
Washington, April 12 (IANS) Amid a fresh Western drive to impose fresh sanctions against Iran, India has made it clear to the US that while Tehran should stick to its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), sanctions are counter-productive.

The Iranian nuclear issue figured in discussions between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Obama at Blair House, the presidential guesthouse, Sunday on the eve of the Nuclear Security Summit that is expected to focus on Tehran’s defiant nuclear programme.

The discussions took place with a special reference to the ongoing discussions in New York on the possibility of a UN Security Council Resolution to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told journalists here after talks.

“So, the president briefed the prime minister on these discussions. Our prime minister made known India’s position very clearly in this regard,” said Rao.

“You are aware of the fact that we have always stressed that Iran has certain obligations to fulfil as a member of the NPT on the nuclear issue as it concerns Iran,” said Rao.

On the issue of sanctions, Manmohan Singh told Obama that “sanctions when they target ordinary people have always been counter-productive.”

“Both sides agreed to keep in touch on this issue and to continue their discussions,” she said.

While India believes that a nuclear weapon Iran is not in the interests of regional stability, it has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the issue of the Iranian nuclear programme, suspected of developing nuclear weapons.

In November last year, India had backed an international resolution against Iran over its nuclear programme, but qualified it by saying it is opposed to “a renewed punitive approach or sanctions” and stressed the need for “keeping doors open for dialogue”.

This was the third time in the last five years India had voted against Tehran’s nuclear programme.

India’s reiteration of its opposition to sanctions against Iran came a day before the meeting between Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. Obama is expected to press Hu Monday to follow up on China commitment to help ratchet up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Beijing has agreed to join serious talks about possible new UN sanctions on Tehran.

In a 50-minute meeting between Manmohan Singh and Obama, the Iranian nuclear issue was perhaps the only one over which the US and India differed sharply.

The meeting was described as “extremely positive and constructive” by Indian officials and saw a congruence of views between the two sides on dealing with issues relating to Pakistan-origin terrorism and the stability of Afghanistan.

 

[venkat]

I always wonder what these americans want? millions of people dying in poverty and hunger? First it was Afghanistan,then it was Iraq,now it is Iran!!!it was in vietnam war they got their nose bloody and itwas an unforgettable lesson!!! Hope India will see reason and maintain NAM kind of relationship with Iran!!!

 

[thakur_ritesh]

well well well, it seems anyone can put a snub across the americans these days, hell even MMS can. well done Mr PM, never thought you would go this far. i just love this chap obama, hope he gets another term, my fingers are crossed.

AJ,

i don’t think india needs to do a 180* turn, that will isolating from all the goods we can extract off them but a 360* with some new thought put in on how best to move forward with the americans and it seems we have done that turn and are doing a good enough job. looks like lessons learnt from afghanistan didn’t go a waste.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1162717.html

Iran: We will join 'world nuclear club' within a month

Iran announced that it will join the "world nuclear club" within a month and will be capable of deterring possible attacks on the country, the Iranian Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

"No country would even think about attacking Iran after Iran's membership in the club," said Behzad Soltani, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, according to the report.

Soltani added that the construction of a 360 megawatt nuclear power plant and a 40 megawatt research reactor in Iran's central city of Arak are 70 percent finished.
Advertisement

He also said that the developments will help treat 850,000 cancer patients.

"We do not intend to use the peaceful nuclear energy merely for generating electricity and energy, rather our next step would be expanding use of this technology for purposes other than energy and fuel production so that foodstuff, proteins and vegetables are preserved for a longer time and with a higher quality through radiation," Soltani said, according to Fars.

He added that the technology will also increase economic growth and prosperity in Iran.

"This means Iran's mighty nuclear independence intermingled with economic growth, expansion of technology and political power in the international arena," Behzadi said.

Iran earlier on Tuesday expressed doubts that China will back the U.S. and European drive for renewed United Nations Security Council sanctions against it.

U.S. officials said Monday China was ready to work with the U.S. on possible sanctions.

Chinese spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said after a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama that China and the United States share the same overall goal on the Iranian nuclear issue.

But Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters on Tuesday athat Tehran does not view the statement as Chinese approval for the U.S. stance.

"Our interpretation [of the statement] is different," Mehmanparast said, but would not elaborate.

Mehmanparast added that both China and Russia would attend a two-day international nuclear disarmament conference starting on April 17 in Tehran.

At least 15 foreign ministers would attend the meeting, he said.

Although the conference is supposed to deal with nuclear disarmament, observers say that the meeting is another effort by Iran to seek international acknowledgement for its nuclear policies and expose renewed sanctions as irrelevant.

Iran has persistently dismissed international concerns that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.


welcome to the club Iran