New Delhi
5 April 2007
The United States has "misgivings" about Iran but it was willing to
talk to the Iranians, a United States official said. "Problem is not with Iran, problem is
with Iran's bad behaviour ... we are willing to talk to Iran, we have talked in the past [and]
we will keep trying," the official told a select gathering in New Delhi on Thursday.
The official also said that India was a major player in Afghanistan and New Delhi could
complement Washington's efforts by organising training programmes for Afghan
nationals. India could also expand peacekeeping operations, the official felt. Observing
that defence cooperation with India was "high on the agenda" of the US, the official said
that both countries had "common interests of security" from the Persian Gulf to the
Straits of Malacca, including shipping and terrorism.
The official said that the US generally held positive views on Iran but Iran's opposition to
West Asia peace, support to violent group, interference in Iraq and Afghanistan and
nuclear ambitions contributed to its "unhelpful role" today. Citing the instance of the
detention of 15 British sailors as another case in point, the official said that Iran detained
them for political reasons. "They (sailors) were never in Iranian waters ... they were in
Iraqi waters," the official said. The official welcomed their release but criticised Iran for
presenting them as a "gift" to the British people. "I am glad they are released [but]
presenting soldiers as gift are not good things ... people gift books, not people ... it is
insulting and reprehensible," the official said.
The American official went on to observe that Washington has misgivings about Iran.
"People need to be careful ... We hope Iran changes its negative behaviour [but] this is
not the time to invite Iran to play new games," the official said about the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation welcoming Iran as observer. The official said that
Afghanistan's entry was welcome. "Afghanistan is the hub ... central Asia and south Asia
come together (in Afghanistan) and its association with SAARC is great," the official said
in response to a question.
The official observed that the India-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation was a "big
departure" for the US and it has stirred "quite a debate" in the US but insisted that the
deal would strengthen non-proliferation. "This (deal) is outside the Nuclear Non-
proliferation Treaty [but] I think it is compatible and in sync ... adds to Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty," the official said.
The India-US nuclear deal was "an opportunity for India to play a stronger role in non-
proliferation" and for "using technology in right ways", the official said. "We are trying to
put the pieces in place," the official said about the ongoing negotiations. The official felt
that some of India's responses "don't quite make sense" but Washington "will work
through it" in order to build trust.
The official felt that the nuclear deal had reached a point where the "leaders" must
decide. "There are different [political] views in India, just like in the US. Bureaucratic
practices don't produce anything, leaders decide," the official said, referring how the
India and American leaders intervened after the Strobe Talbott--Jaswant Singh talks did
not make satisfactory progress. "Talbott's book on his talks with Jaswant Singh
discusses a process which was going nowhere [until] the leaders [stepped in]," the
official added.
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