We don’t need US lecture on dealing with Iran: India

In an unusually sharp reaction to the US counsel on New Delhi’s dealing with Iran, India said on Tuesday, it does not need “any guidance” on its conduct of relations with the Persian country as both the nations are “perfectly capable” of managing all aspects of their ties.

“India and Iran are ancient civilisations whose relations span centuries. Both nations are perfectly capable of managing all aspects of their relationship with the appropriate degree of care and attention,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.

He was reacting to US State Department’s remarks that Washington expected India to tell Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad during his visit here next week to meet the UN Security Council resolution on its nuclear programme.

“Neither country needs any guidance on the future conduct of bilateral relations as both countries believe that engagement and dialogue alone lead to peace,” Sarna said.