Iran should work within IAEA’s parameters: SM Krishna

NEW DELHI: As IAEA again confirmed Iran's enrichment of uranium at an underground location for its nuclear weapons programme, India on Tuesday reiterated its position that while Tehran was free to pursue civil nuclear energy, it had to work within the UN watchdog's "basic framework meant to address technical issues''. 

Foreign minister SM Krishna made the remark while addressing reporters along with his Israel counterpartAvigdor Lieberman. "We respect Iran's right to pursue nuclear energy ambitions but it has been our consistent position that this right is subject to the IAEA parameters,'' said Krishna. Krishna was replying to a query why India was not with the US, Israel and other western countries in supporting sanctions against Iran. Israel has not ruled out striking installations in Iran should Tehran continue enriching uranium. Responding to the same question on Iran, Lieberman said, "India is the largest democracy in the world and respects decisions of the international community. We expect that every country will respect the decision after it is cleared by the UN Security Council." Lieberman also gifted a tennis racquet to Krishna citing the foreign minister's love for tennis. Krishna described Israel as a natural ally saying that India will further step up cooperation with Israel in dealing with terrorism. As ties between the two countries grow, Israel announced its decision to open its third mission in India in the form of a consulate in Bangalore. "I think we will have to work out a strategy as how we address ourselves to the scourge of international terrorism which has become a curse for the entire humanity. I think our efforts should be to checkmate it and ultimately eradicate terror from the face of the earth,'' Krishna said. When asked about former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's statement that Pakistan should cultivate ties with Israel, Krishna said India was not going to come in the way of Israel building ties with any nation but went on to mention the commonalities between India and Israel. "We certainly won't come in the way because we believe each relationship stands on its own merit. In the case of India and Israel, we share things like democracy and a rule based law," he said.