US ambassador links India's civil nuclear initiative to Iran vote
{{date|January 26, 2006}}
[[image:Bush Singh Ovaloffice july18 2005.jpg|right|300px|thumb|President Bush with India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, during their meeting in the Oval Office in July 2005]]
The [[United States]] Ambassador to [[India]], David Mulford, has reportedly hinted that the U.S. civil nuclear energy pact with India may face problems getting approved by Congress if India refused to vote against [[Iran]] at the upcoming meeting of the [[United Nations]] nuclear watchdog committee.

The nuclear pact was made after a July 2005 policy shift by U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] that offered cooperation in India's development of civilian atomic power industry in exchange for its support of the {{w|International Atomic Energy Agency}}'s (IAEA) nonproliferation standards.

The U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stated at a Wednesday briefing that, "The ambassador was expressing his personal opinion about what the potential political outcome might be. He was giving his personal assessment of how the Congress might react to such an action by India." McCormack added that, "We certainly would encourage and hope that they (India) vote for referral this time around."

The IAEA is scheduled to meet February 2 to discuss Iran's referral to the [[U.N. Security Council]] over its resumption of uranium enrichment. The U.S. claims that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing weapons, a claim that Tehran denies.

India's foreign ministry rejected any attempt to tie its stance on Iran to the deal with the U.S. on acquiring nuclear know-how.

India has previously supported the IAEA's declaration in September of 2005 that Iran had failed to comply with its international obligations. 

The U.S. also opposes the negotiations, begun in 1994, on a proposed gas pipeline between India and Iran which is intended to provide India with increased energy capacities.

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Burns engages India on civil nuclear energy pact|date=January 22, 2006}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Iran moves finances out of Europe's banks|date=January 20, 2006}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Syria voices support of Iran's nuclear program|date=January 20, 2006}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/26/content_4100870.htm
|title=US ambassador expressing personal view about India
|author=China View
|pub=Xinhua
|date=January 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/25/AR2006012500828.html
|title=US says India nuclear deal may depend on Iran vote
|author=
|pub=Washington Post
|date=January 25, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.ft.com/cms/s/2fc17d6c-8dd4-11da-8fda-0000779e2340.html
|title=Washington warns Delhi over vote on Iran
|author=Daniel Dombey,Jo Johnson,Richard McGregor 
|pub=Financial Times
|date=January 25, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4647956.stm
|title=US warns India over Iran stance
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=January 25, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-01/14/content_512305.htm
|title=Iran nuclear impasse could hurt US-India atomic deal
|author=China Daily
|pub=Reuters
|date=January 14, 2006}}

==External links==
*[http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/003898.html US remains opposed to Iran-India gas pipeline: Rice]

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:India]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Nuclear proliferation]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:US Congress]]
[[Category:United Nations]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:IAEA]]
[[Category:United Nations Security Council]]
[[Category:Nuclear power]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]
President Bush with India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, during their meeting in the Oval Office in July 2005
The United States Ambassador to India, David Mulford, has reportedly hinted that the U.S. civil nuclear energy pact with India may face problems getting approved by Congress if India refused to vote against Iran at the upcoming meeting of the United Nations nuclear watchdog committee.

The nuclear pact was made after a July 2005 policy shift by U.S. President George W. Bush that offered cooperation in India's development of civilian atomic power industry in exchange for its support of the 's (IAEA) nonproliferation standards.

The U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stated at a Wednesday briefing that, "The ambassador was expressing his personal opinion about what the potential political outcome might be. He was giving his personal assessment of how the Congress might react to such an action by India." McCormack added that, "We certainly would encourage and hope that they (India) vote for referral this time around."

The IAEA is scheduled to meet February 2 to discuss Iran's referral to the U.N. Security Council over its resumption of uranium enrichment. The U.S. claims that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing weapons, a claim that Tehran denies.

India's foreign ministry rejected any attempt to tie its stance on Iran to the deal with the U.S. on acquiring nuclear know-how.

India has previously supported the IAEA's declaration in September of 2005 that Iran had failed to comply with its international obligations. 

The U.S. also opposes the negotiations, begun in 1994, on a proposed gas pipeline between India and Iran which is intended to provide India with increased energy capacities.
Asia India United States Politics and conflicts Nuclear proliferation North America US Congress United Nations George W. Bush IAEA United Nations Security Council Nuclear power Nuclear weapons