Iran must be allowed pursuance of peaceful nuclear energy: India

As a signatory to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Islamic Republic of Iran has an obligation to not develop weapons but it must be allowed use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, said Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

"It must have all the privileges that go with being a member of the NPT, (including) the peaceful uses of nuclear energy... It also has all the obligations that go with NPT membership. Therefore, I think nuclear weapons are not an option," he said in an interview with the Washington Post on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, Doordarshan News Portal reported.

Dr Singh, who recently hosted Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in New Delhi, said Iran feels encouraged by the messages it has received from the Obama administration.

"I met recently the Iranian foreign minister. We did discuss the nuclear question. The message he left with me was that they feel encouraged by the messages they are receiving from the Obama administration," he said.

Asked about Iran pursuing a nuclear weapons program, he said: "I had the pleasure of (meeting) the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency a few weeks ago, and he was not so sure that Iran was definitely working towards a nuclear weapon".

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