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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 18, 2006

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Iran: India reacts with caution

Diplomatic Correspondent

India a responsible nuclear weapons state: New Delhi

NEW DELHI: Four days after top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani made a reference to India during a CNN interview, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman on Monday regretted the comments. In the same response, India indirectly called on Iran to comply with its international obligations and commitments.

New Delhi, which so far has refrained from commenting on the latest developments relating to Iran and the West, used the opportunity to stress compliance and commitments : "We have consistently maintained that it is a state's sovereign right to enter into treaties and international agreements. Every state must fully comply with its international obligations and commitments and in a transparent manner."

What Larijani said

"In comparing American behaviour to Iran with countries that recently developed nuclear weapons, they are being harmonious now because they think that in 10 years' time we will develop nuclear weapons. But compare that to India, it does have nuclear weapons but they have extensive relations in the nuclear field. This dual standard is detrimental to international security," Mr. Larijani was quoted as saying in the interview.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesman said India was a responsible nuclear weapons state and had "always been in compliance with its obligations under international treaties and agreements."

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