India hails pact, terms it a significant step

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 3

India today welcomed the understanding reached on the contentious nuclear issue between Iran and six countries.  The government said it  always pushed  for peaceful resolution of the issue and Tehran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“A significant step seems to have been taken with agreement on the parameters of a comprehensive settlement to be negotiated by June 30. India has always maintained that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully by respecting Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as also the international community's strong interest in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme”, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

New Delhi’s reaction came after last evening US President Barack Obama announced in Washington a breakthrough framework agreement that outlines Iran’s limits on nuclear programme and prevent its ability to produce nuclear weapons.

The statement said the announcement in Lausanne, Switzerland underlines the success of diplomacy and dialogue, which India has always supported and “which we hope would lead to a comprehensive agreement by June 30.

The European Union coordinated the E3 plus 3 --six countries including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States-- the talks stretched over eight days, two days beyond the March 31 deadline. Iran has been promised end to sanctions only if the negotiators are able to convert the agreed roadmap into a comprehensive agreement by June 30.