The Hindu Business Line : Iran-India: Critical times?

IS IRAN, as the Western media would have us believe, really mired in religious fanaticism and intolerance? It did not appear so when, on September 17, the young President, Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressed the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly. His theme was one of harmony, co-operation and justice in the world, and not of confrontation. In fact, he said, "Partnership can help end nuclear apartheid."

He went to add that, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is born out of a movement based on the pure primordial nature of a people who rose up to regain their dignity, esteem and human rights.

The Islamic Revolution toppled a regime which had been put in place through a coup, and supported by those who claim to be advocates of democracy and human rights, thwarted the aspirations of the nation for development and progress for 25 years through intimidation, torture of the populace, submission and subservience to outsiders."

In fact, it was this human dignity and fairness that Mr Ahmadinejad was stressing on when he said, "In keeping with Iran's inalienable right to access nuclear fuel cycle, continued interaction and technical and legal cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) will be the centrepiece of our nuclear policy.

International precedence tells us that nuclear fuel-delivery contracts are unreliable and no legally binding international document or instrument can guarantee the delivery of nuclear fuel. On many occasions, such bilateral contracts were annulled for political reasons.

"Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in its pursuit of peaceful nuclear technology, considers it within its legitimate rights to receive objective guarantees for uranium enrichment in the nuclear fuel cycle.

In its negotiations with EU-3 (France, Germany and the UK), Iran has tried in earnest to prove the solid and rightful foundations of its nuclear activity in the context of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), and to establish mutual trust. The selection of our negotiating partners and the continuation of negotiations with the EU-3 will be commensurate with the requirements of our cooperation with the IAEA regarding non-diversion of the process of uranium enrichment to non-peaceful purposes in the framework of the NPT provisions. In this context, several proposals have been presented which can be considered in the context of the negotiations."

And yet New Delhi chose to take a pro-US stand. Has India, at a crucial hour, betrayed a friend? The Iranian Government has strongly supported India's demand for a permanent UN Security Council seat. India would be making a mistake if it takes a position that is not in consonance with the geographic, historic and cultural realities of the region.

Though Iran has said that "friends should not be judged by a single act", India would be well advised to stand by its friend, when the vote comes for ratification, and not be swayed by Western powers.

India's energy requirements are as important as the US', and if we commit the folly of maligning a friend, we are certainly putting at risk our own domestic interests. It is important to note that Iran has agreed to supply gas at attractive prices.

If India indeed fears that Iran is a "dangerous" emerging nuclear power, Mr Ahmadinejad's categorical statement in the UN General Assembly that "the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its previously and repeatedly declared position that in accordance with our religious principles, pursuit of nuclear weapons is prohibited," should ease its mind. We must not hang on to the coat-tails of those who will, without doubt, not only call to question our integrity, but also jeopardise our interests.

(The author is a senior fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.)

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