NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat on Friday said India-Iran relations could not be held hostage to the United States. He asked the United Progressive Alliance Government to act in India's interest and pursue an independent foreign policy.

"The UPA Government should not be stampeded into taking any stand against Iran which will undo the work done in recent years to establish close ties with Iran. Many of the things the Islamic regime is doing within the country cannot be condoned or accepted by the Left and democratic circles in India. But, developing state-to-state relations and coming to agreements for mutual benefit between the third world countries has to be pursued by the Government of India. It is important not to give in to the U.S. pressure on Iran," Mr. Karat said in the latest issue of the party organ, People's Democracy.

The remark comes in the backdrop of voices from Washington demanding that India along with China and Russia join the U.S. against Iran on the nuclear issue in referring the case (against it) to the United Nations Security Council. Mr. Karat said India, China and Russia should consult among themselves to take a common stand. The UPA Government should adhere to the stand that the nuclear issue be resolved through talks.

Mr. Karat said External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh's visit to Iran was criticised in the House International Relations Committee of the U.S. Congress, after Iraq, Iran and North Korea had become the targets of the Bush administration. "Some of the vituperative remarks directed against India's External Affairs Minister during the Congressional hearing have been rightly refuted by the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson," he said.

The U.S. was demanding that Iran stop its uranium enrichment programme. Having called Iran a "terrorist state" and "destabilising force in international relations," the U.S. did not want it to develop nuclear technology even for peaceful purposes.

Mr. Karat said Iran had the right, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under international safeguards.

The U.S. was insisting that Iran's case be referred to the Security Council, which could lead to sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board had to take the decision to refer the matter to the U.N. The U.S. would like India to support its proposal in the IAEA for referring Iran's case to the Security Council, Mr. Karat said. Pressure was being exerted on India by indicating that the U.S. agreement to supply nuclear fuel to it would be imperilled if it did not line up against Iran.

Mr. Karat said the UPA Government had so far maintained that India's bilateral relations with Iran were in the national interest. It decided the gas pipeline project from Iran to India via Pakistan, keeping in mind India's energy needs.

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