Indian PM stresses Iran’s nuclear rights in German visit

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has underlined his nation’s recognition of Iran’s right to develop and use peaceful nuclear technology.

Singh made the remarks in an official visit to Germany, a member of the P5+1 group that is engaged in comprehensive talks with the Islamic Republic.

Singh made it clear at a Thursday press conference following his talks with German Counselor Angela Merkel that New Delhi respected Iran’s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, IRNA reported.

Further emphasizing India’s desire for a peaceful resolution to the remaining differences between the P5+1 group and Iran over the nation’s nuclear energy program, Prime Minister Singh noted that over six million Indians live and work in Persian Gulf regional states and any move to disrupt peace and security in the region would adversely affect India’s economy.

The P5+1 group consists of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the US – plus Germany.

The Western block of the P5+1 group has repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian uses of its nuclear energy program without offering any proof to substantiate such claims.

Moreover, they have used such unverified allegations to impose economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic, insisting that Iran must abandon its uranium enrichment efforts and effectively its entire nuclear energy program, an idea rejected by Tehran, which insists that it will never give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

While acknowledging that the multifaceted talks between the P5+1 and Iran are sophisticated and sensitive, Singh expressed his sincere optimism for a diplomatic resolution of all outstanding issues to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

This is while the German counselor, a major American ally and an active player in the unilateral US-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic, expressed disappointment about what she referred to as lack of progress at the recent P5+1 talks with Iran in Almaty, Kazakhstan.