‘India shouldn’t help Israel spy on Iran’

NEW DELHI: Unhappy that India had recently launched an Israeli satellite into orbit from Sriharikota, Iran has asked New Delhi not to help Israel to launch spy operations from its territory. “We hope that wise and independent countries should not provide space and technology to countries who are undertaking spying operations on Iran,” Iranian ambassador to India Seyed Mahdi Nabizadeh said.

He was answering questions on Tehran’s reaction to New Delhi providing assistance to Israel to get Tescar satellite in orbit. India’s polar satellite launch vehicle, PSLV-C10, had done the launch on a commercial basis. However, the mission was kept a secret for fear of political pressure from the Left parties, always wary of the government’s close defence ties with Israel.

While Iran did not lodge any official protest, Tehren expressed its disappointment and raised the issue with Indian diplomats. Officials here told them that this was “purely a commercial decision”.

Despite this reassurance, Iran wants India to be careful as “many (countries) are trying to destroy Iran’s bilateral ties with other countries. We hope that people and governments are very wise and should not be influenced by such propaganda.”

g_seema@dnaindia.net