India for Diplomatic Solution to Iran Nuke Stand-Off

NEW DELHI (NNN-IRNA): India has called for a 'diplomatic solution' to any international concern over Tehran's nuclear programme, saying doors should be kept open for dialogue and avoid confrontation.

Addressing a United Nations Security Council briefing on Iran, senior official from the Indian mission Vinay Kumar Wednesday said India has been consistently underlining the critical importance of continued dialogue between Iran and the UN's atomic energy watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, pti reported.

Kumar said India supports the intensification of dialogue between Iran and the agency aimed at resolving 'all outstanding substantive issues' including concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme that the report of the IAEA head had highlighted last month.

Reiterating its support for a 'diplomatic solution' Kumar said India feels it is 'essential to keep the door open for dialogue and to avoid confrontation'.

'We believe that it is necessary to expand the diplomatic space to address all outstanding issues in restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme,' he said.

India has supported the right of all states to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, consistent with their respective obligations.

As a non-nuclear weapon state signatory to the NPT, Iran has 'all the rights and obligations that go with its membership pertaining to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes'. -NNN-IRNA