We will not come under pressure on Iran: PM

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said India will take a decision on the Iran nuclear issue keeping its national interest in mind. He assuaged the Left parties, who had written to Dr. Singh in this regard that India would not succumb to any pressure on the crucial issue at the IAEA vote. Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Singh said: "We will do what is right for the country. India's national interest is the prime concern whether it is domestic or foreign policy. We will not come under any pressure. Our prime concern is to protect and safeguard India's enlightened national interest," said the Prime Minister.

   The Left parties had on Saturday demanded that India abstain from voting at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on February 2 if there was no consensus on the Iran nuclear issue. "Our considered opinion continues to be that in consonance with the UPA Government's commitment to the pursuit of an independent foreign policy, India should abstain if a consensus is lacking on the issue at the IAEA meeting,'' the Left parties wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. New Delhi had on Friday endorsed the Russian initiative to resolve the Iran nuclear crisis. Russia had offered to enrich uranium for Iran under a joint venture in its facilities in a bid to defuse the existing stand-off. The Indian Government has already reacted strongly to US envoy David Mulford's comments linking the proposed Indo-US agreement on nuclear energy co-operation with its stand on Iran's nuclear issue at the IAEA. In an obvious reaction to the hardening US stand, 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, on Friday, French President Jacques Chirac's diplomatic advisor, Maurice Gourdault Montagne, also called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and briefed him about the EU3 - Germany, France and Britain- plans to ready a resolution to refer Iran to the UN Security Council during the IAEA board meeting on February 2. Iran faces the threat of being referred to the UN Security Council over its controversial nuclear programme by the US and the EU-troika comprising Germany, France and Britain, even as Moscow and Beijing have asked Washington and Brussels to give Tehran a little more time.

Back to Headlines                  Go To Top