India eyes better ties with Iran

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Prime VIP
New Delhi, July 5

Ahead of the upcoming high-level dialogue between India and Iran on July 8 and 9, New Delhi today voiced its opposition to unilateral sanctions imposed by the US on certain Indian companies doing business with the Islamic Republic in the energy field.

“We are justifiably concerned that the extra-territorial nature of certain unilateral sanctions recently imposed by individual countries, with their restrictions on investment by third countries in Iran’s energy sector, can have a direct and adverse impact on Indian companies and more importantly on our energy security and our attempts to meet the development needs of our people,’’ Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.

The Obama Administration recently listed 41 firms across the world for links with Iran in the energy sector. Among them are some Indian companies, most state-owned -- Indian Oil Corporation, ONGC, Petronet LNG and ONGC Videsh.

Articulating New Delhi’s stand on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, Nirupama said that India supported the right of all countries to undertake peaceful uses of nuclear energy consistent with international obligations. India supported dialogue and avoidance of confrontation to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue. Her statement is considered significant since it comes just days before External Affairs Minister SM Krishna co-chairs the 16 meetings of the India-Iran joint commission on July 8, 9 along with Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Shamsuddin Huseini. Washington is bound to keenly monitor the India-Iran dialogue.

The joint commission is meeting within a month of the fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. The two sides will review steps to expand cooperation in diverse areas, including industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and mines, added the sources. They will also discuss expanded cooperation in science and technology, IT, nano-technology, biotechnology and energy.

The two sides are also expected to explore possibilities of cooperation in Afghanistan as both have apprehensions about a takeover by the Taliban, which will invariably impinge on their strategic interests in the region. Nirupama gave hints about this when she called for structured, systematic and regular consultations between the two countries on the situation in Afghanistan.

The top Indian diplomat also indicated that the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline was very much on the Indian radar.
 
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