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| Sunday, 15 January 2006 |
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Iran nuclear
impasse could hurt US-India atomic deal
WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) A landmark U.S.-Indian nuclear cooperation deal could be hampered by India's reluctance to refer Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council and to open enough of its own atomic facilities to inspection, U.S. officials and experts said on Friday. Both issues will be discussed when Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns visits New Delhi for talks on Jan. 19. Bush, in a controversial policy shift last July 18, promised nuclear-armed India full cooperation in developing its civilian atomic power industry in return for New Delhi's commitment to international nonproliferation standards. The deal, which would lift a 30-year ban on nuclear commerce between the two countries, must be approved by the U.S. Congress. The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Groups is also being asked to change its rules. India sided with the United States and major European powers when the U.N. watchdog agency last September declared Iran had failed to comply with its international obligations. The West accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran says it wants nuclear technology to produce electricity. The vote in the International Atomic Energy Agency came after U.S. congressmen warned the U.S.-India agreement could be at risk if New Delhi did not work with Washington to punish Tehran for nuclear-weapons related activities. |
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