New Delhi, December 24
India today chose to tread the familiar middle path on the Iran crisis.
A day after the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, the Ministry of External Affairs said it was “studying its implications”. At the same time, New Delhi stressed on the centrality of the IAEA in resolving the Iran controversy.
The MEA stated: “Iran has the right to pursue its nuclear programme for peaceful civilian use. It has undertaken certain obligations that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. We have noted the passage of the UN Security Council Resolution and are studying its implications. We continue to feel that all possible efforts should be made to address the Iranian nuclear issue by peaceful means through dialogue and negotiation and that the IAEA should play a central role in resolving outstanding issues.”
Iran rejected the resolution as soon as it was passed. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani was quoted by the “Kayhan” newspaper yesterday as saying that his country will push forward immediately with efforts to enrich uranium. "From Sunday morning, we will begin activities at Natanz - site of 3,000-centrifuge machines - and we will drive it with full speed. It will be our immediate response to the (UNSC) resolution," Mr Larijani told the newspaper.
The resolution has ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programmes. It also freezes the Iranian assets of 10 key companies and 12 individuals related to those programmes.
The resolution could have been tougher, but Russia and China, both close friends of Iran, did not support American hardline approach.
The resolution is binding on all member states, including India. Thus, New Delhi will have to take steps to block entry of blacklisted Iranians into India. The Security Council has also warned of adopting further non-military sanctions if Iran refused to comply. A bright aspect is that the resolution has stressed the importance of diplomacy in seeking guarantees that Tehran’s nuclear programme is “exclusively for peaceful purposes”.
