NEW DELHI: A change in New Delhi's stand on the Iran nuclear issue at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board meeting on Monday is unlikely, Government sources told The Hindu on Sunday.

India voted against Iran in September 2005 and last month. "There's little chance of a change in the position," the sources said.

An indication that India is no longer insisting that the matter be resolved within the confines of the IAEA Board was available from an official statement on Sunday on the phone conversation between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin late on Saturday.

"The leaders exchanged views in the context of the forthcoming meeting of the Board of Governors of the IAEA on March 6. [The] Prime Minister welcomed Russia's efforts to address the issues related to Iran's nuclear programme through dialogue and consultations," the statement said.

Interestingly, the 20-minute conversation came barely 24 hours after U.S. President George W. Bush flew out of New Delhi after clinching a nuclear deal with India."The two leaders also discussed the cooperation in civilian nuclear energy," the statement said, but gave no details.

"President Putin also briefed Prime Minister Singh about the G-8 Summit being hosted by Russia in St. Petersburg in July 2006. The Prime Minister conveyed his acceptance of Mr. Putin's invitation to participate in a broader dialogue with the G-8 at St. Petersburg," it said.

The sources said the IAEA Director-General had sent to the United Nations Security Council his latest report.

On February 4, the Board, in a resolution, requested him to report to the Security Council all IAEA reports and resolutions, as adopted, relating to implementation of safeguards in Iran.

Giving reasons for the pro-American, anti-Iran vote, the External Affairs Ministry said on September 24, 2005 that New Delhi did not want the Iran issue referred to the Council and preferred to keep the matter within the confines of the IAEA Board.

As per the February 4 resolution, the IAEA is bound to convey to the Council any new resolution the Board's March meeting may pass.

The U.S. and its allies have the numbers for another resolution, the sources said, adding that the position that would be taken by Russia and China, both within the IAEA Board and the Security Council, would be critical.

In a related development, senior Iranian official Ali Larijani, when asked about the India-U.S. nuclear understanding, was quoted as saying in an interview: "We are a friend of India and will not oppose it [the deal]."

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