Iran, on balance

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserves credit for salvaging India’s approach to the nuclear crisis in Iran from the rhetorical chaos and the pursuit of narrow sectional interests that had engulfed it in recent weeks. In his meeting with the French president, Jacques Chirac, in Paris on Monday and with the US president, George W. Bush, on Tuesday, Singh has put the fundamentals of India’s non-proliferation policy back in focus. Reiterating India’s self-image as a responsible nuclear weapon state, Singh made it clear that no exceptions can be made in the case of Iranian proliferation. India rightly treats Iran as a natural partner and the cooperation between the two nations covers a wide range of sectors. Neither that reality, nor the nature of Iran’s religious orientation, can be allowed to come in the way of India insisting that Tehran must abide by its legal obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and resolve the question of its nuclear compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in an amicable manner.

Both the principle of non-proliferation and India’s own self-interest in preventing the emergence of new nuclear powers in its neighbourhood would suggest that Delhi cannot condone Iranian proliferation. An unambiguous commitment to non-proliferation without exceptions, however, does not mean India should back a rush to confrontation with Iran. Singh has rightly emphasised that diplomacy towards Iran — now being led by the France, Britain and Germany — must be given the full chance to succeed before sanctions and war are threatened on Tehran. In New York, Singh promised Bush to stay in touch and play a constructive role in the Iranian nuclear crisis. India must now follow up on its commitment to play this role. Rather than duck under the table when the issue comes to a head at the IAEA board of governors meeting on September 19, India must reach out to Iran along with the European powers and persuade it to find a peaceful settlement. A confrontation between the US and Iran at this juncture is in no one’s interest.

It is also clear that despite tall talk in Washington and Tehran, neither side is ready for confrontation. That alone offers hope for a peaceful resolution of the crisis as well as an active role for Indian diplomacy.