09-10-2008, 01:37 PM
India nuclear deal will help limit Iran, says US
By Daniel Dombey in Washington
Published: September 10 2008 03:00 | Last updated: September 10 2008 03:00
The Bush administration is pushing for congressional approval for a high-profile deal with India by arguing that the agreement will help to rein in Iran's nuclear programme and bolster the international non-proliferation system.
In an interview with the Financial Times, John Rood, the top arms control official at the state department, rejected criticism that the accord undermined efforts to crack down on the spread of nuclear weapons.
"India is a growing power: they are going to play a bigger and bigger role on the world stage," said Mr Rood, acting undersecretary of state for arms control. "So, if you are dealing with the challenge of, for example, Iran or Syria, it's far better to have the strong support of countries like India."
He was speaking after helping spearhead the US's successful effort to persuade more than 40 countries to permit nuclear trade with Delhi even though it has not signed the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. The decision to grant India a special exemption came at a Vienna meeting of the nuclears supplier group, an international rule-setting body, at the weekend.
As a result of that breakthrough, US congressional approval is now the last significant hurdle before the US-Indian civil nuclear deal can become law. But with only a few weeks before Congress breaks for elections, the Bush administration has little time to convince legislators.
The State Department said the administration was doing "everything we possibly can" to pass the agreement into law and that it planned to submit the package to Congress within the next 24 to 48 hours.
US officials believe that congressional approval will eventually come, if only after Mr Bush leaves office. One reason is that last weekend's decision opens the way for France or Russia to export nuclear goods to India, but without congressional backing US companies will be unable to do so.
"No one is trying to rush anyone," said Mr Rood. But he argued that "it would be reasonable to encourage Congress to act with due deliberation" if Mr Bush formally determined that the deal met criteria set by Congress, such as furthering non-proliferation efforts.
"India's move strengthens the international nonproliferation regime," Mr Rood said, citing Delhi's efforts to improve its export control system.
But several prominent legislators argue that what they depict as a sweetheart deal for India will undermine attempts to convince Iran and North Korea to scale down their nuclear programmes. Some have also complained that the nuclear suppliers group was unduly generous to India.
While the meeting in Vienna set no explicit conditions on nuclear testing, the guiding US legislation on US-Indian nuclear co-operation states that if India carries out a nuclear test its special treatment shall cease. Mr Bush has said he regards parts of that legislation as merely "advisory".
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008
By Daniel Dombey in Washington
Published: September 10 2008 03:00 | Last updated: September 10 2008 03:00
The Bush administration is pushing for congressional approval for a high-profile deal with India by arguing that the agreement will help to rein in Iran's nuclear programme and bolster the international non-proliferation system.
In an interview with the Financial Times, John Rood, the top arms control official at the state department, rejected criticism that the accord undermined efforts to crack down on the spread of nuclear weapons.
"India is a growing power: they are going to play a bigger and bigger role on the world stage," said Mr Rood, acting undersecretary of state for arms control. "So, if you are dealing with the challenge of, for example, Iran or Syria, it's far better to have the strong support of countries like India."
He was speaking after helping spearhead the US's successful effort to persuade more than 40 countries to permit nuclear trade with Delhi even though it has not signed the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. The decision to grant India a special exemption came at a Vienna meeting of the nuclears supplier group, an international rule-setting body, at the weekend.
As a result of that breakthrough, US congressional approval is now the last significant hurdle before the US-Indian civil nuclear deal can become law. But with only a few weeks before Congress breaks for elections, the Bush administration has little time to convince legislators.
The State Department said the administration was doing "everything we possibly can" to pass the agreement into law and that it planned to submit the package to Congress within the next 24 to 48 hours.
US officials believe that congressional approval will eventually come, if only after Mr Bush leaves office. One reason is that last weekend's decision opens the way for France or Russia to export nuclear goods to India, but without congressional backing US companies will be unable to do so.
"No one is trying to rush anyone," said Mr Rood. But he argued that "it would be reasonable to encourage Congress to act with due deliberation" if Mr Bush formally determined that the deal met criteria set by Congress, such as furthering non-proliferation efforts.
"India's move strengthens the international nonproliferation regime," Mr Rood said, citing Delhi's efforts to improve its export control system.
But several prominent legislators argue that what they depict as a sweetheart deal for India will undermine attempts to convince Iran and North Korea to scale down their nuclear programmes. Some have also complained that the nuclear suppliers group was unduly generous to India.
While the meeting in Vienna set no explicit conditions on nuclear testing, the guiding US legislation on US-Indian nuclear co-operation states that if India carries out a nuclear test its special treatment shall cease. Mr Bush has said he regards parts of that legislation as merely "advisory".
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008