India for dialogue to resolve Iran nuclear row

NEW DELHI: India said on Sunday it was studying the implications of the UN Security Council's sanctions against Iran while saying that the Iranian nuclear row needed to be resolved through dialogue.

"We continue to feel that all possible efforts should be made to address the Iranian nuclear issue by peaceful means through dialogue and negotiation and that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) should play a central role in resolving outstanding issues," external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said in response to a question on UN sanctions targeting Tehran's nuclear programme. 

India said it acknowledged Iran's right to pursue its nuclear programme for peaceful civilian use and added that it was studying the implications of the UN resolution.

The UN Security Council on Saturday voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Iran, targeting Tehran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology in order to stop enrichment work that could also be used in making bombs.

Iran, which has refused to end its uranium enrichment work in return for economic incentives, has condemned the resolution as "illegal" and vowed to continue with its peaceful nuclear activities.

India had voted against the Iranian nuclear programme at the Vienna-based IAEA and supported the referral of the issue to the UN Security Council. But it has maintained that Tehran's nuclear issue should be resolved through dialogue and not through sanctions.