US and India diverging on the issue of sanctions on Iran: WikiLeaks

WASHINGTON: According to a US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks India is opposed to sanctions against Iran as it affected the common people the most, but supports the US policy that Tehran should not have nuclear weapons.

In May 2008, the then National Security Advisor , M K Narayanan, told a visiting delegation of American Senators Russ Feingold and Bob Casey that India and Iran have enjoyed civilization links, India contains the second-largest Shiite population in the world, and any event in Iran could impact India because of their close geographic proximity, cable released.

However, Narayanan maintained, the Indian government has “bitten the bullet” and held the view that Iran should abide by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), an unpopular position in India.

Prime Minister told him that India expects Iran to behave responsibly during Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s visit to Delhi, according to the cable.

According to the cable, Narayanan contended that encouraging Iran to join the mainstream would produce more results. Narayanan saw the US and India diverging on the issue of sanctions.

Narayanan said, “We are cautious about adhering to a broad attack on Iran, but we do not favor nuclear weapons in Iran,” according to the cable.