India welcomes understanding between Iran and the E3+3 on nuclear issue

India on Friday welcomed the understanding announced in Lausanne between Iran and the E3+3 on the nuclear issue.

A significant step seems to have been taken with agreement on the parameters of a comprehensive settlement to be negotiated by June 30, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"India welcomes the understanding announced in Lausanne between Iran and the E3+3 on the nuclear issue," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

"The Lausanne announcement of yesterday, we hope would lead to a comprehensive agreement by June 30," he added.

India has always maintained that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully by respecting Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as also the international community's strong interest in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme.

The MEA added that the announcement yesterday underlines the success of diplomacy and dialogue, which India has always supported and which would hopefully lead to a comprehensive agreement by June 30.

Earlier on Thursday, after the March 31 deadline to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program was extended by a day, the United States said that talks will continue until, at least, two days after the original deadline.

The news came even as a number of foreign ministers left the talks and China warned that compromise was essential, otherwise "all previous efforts will be wasted."

The P5+1 nations, including, the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China, accuse Iran of building nuclear weapons under the pretence of developing its nuclear capabilities for civilian purposes. They want Tehran to curb its nuclear ambitions in return for the lifting of United Nations sanctions.