Iran insists it wants civilian nuclear power, not weapons
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India says Iran has given no indication that it is reviewing ties
after Delhi's support for Iran's nuclear programme to be referred to
the United Nations.
The denial followed reports in India's leading Hindu newspaper that Iran had scrapped a $22bn gas deal with India.
Under the accord, energy-hungry India is to import 5m tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year for 25 years.
On Tuesday Iran criticised India for supporting a vote to refer it to the Security Council for its nuclear plans.
Iran's ambassador in Delhi conveyed Tehran's disappointment face to face in a meeting with India's foreign secretary.
'Major blow'
The Hindu newspaper reported that Iran had "informed"
India that the $21bn gas export deal had been scrapped after India
voted at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer Iran to
the UN Security Council.
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We
have been given no indication in these interactions of Iran's
intentions to review its long-standing and extensive co-operation with
India
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"With this, India's energy security has suffered a major
blow. The agreement was considered a good deal for India," said the
newspaper.
However, a senior Iranian official has since told the
BBC that the Hindu newspaper report was not accurate and that Iran has
no plans to withdraw from the agreement.
India's foreign ministry said it was aware of Iran's
statement on Tuesday that it would reconsider its economic co-operation
with those countries that voted against it.
But the Indian foreign ministry spokesman said Delhi had
not been told of this when the foreign secretary met the Iranian
ambassador.
"We have been given no indication in these interactions
of Iran's intentions to review its long-standing and extensive
co-operation with India which is of benefit to and in the interest of
both countries," the spokesman said.
He said India had explained the "background to our decision to vote in favour of the resolution at the IAEA".
"The importance which India attaches to maintaining traditionally close relations have also been reiterated."
Under attack
The Indian government has maintained since Saturday that
it did not come under pressure to back the vote from the US, which has
thanked Delhi for its support.
India hopes a $7bn pipeline will bring gas from Iran
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India says the IAEA resolution is consistent with
Delhi's stated position on Iran and in no way linked to a recent
landmark India-US nuclear accord.
The US accuses Iran of seeking nuclear arms, which
Tehran denies. It says it wants nuclear technology purely for peaceful
production of energy and has called the resolution illegal.
India's government is under attack both from the
opposition and its left wing allies for its decision to side with the
West and vote against Iran.
On Wednesday morning, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh met key left-wing allies who are upset at the government's vote
at the IAEA.
Iran and India are traditional allies and have good relations.
Iran provides India with 5% of its crude oil and the two
countries have been focused on a possible project to pipe natural gas
from Iran through Pakistan to India.
The two countries have also been stepping up their
military co-operation and Delhi is keen to have a foothold in
Afghanistan using Iran as an entry point.
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