Want India to help with Iran, says US

The US Monday asked India to use its good relations with Iran to influence Tehran on its nuclear programme.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, addressing a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid at Hyderabad House here, said both sides had discussed Iran. The US and other western nations are upset with Iran over its nuclear programme which they perceive as weapons-oriented, but which Tehran has denied.

Kerry said the US "completely understands the relationship India has with Iran" and also "appreciates India" for trying to reduce its dependency on Iranian oil following threats of sanctions.

"And hopefully India with its relationships could help urge the new Iranian leadership and old leadership... to take advantage of this moment," said Kerry. He said the Iranians should not "miscalculate" about American and international commitments that need to be adhered to.

"We would want Iran to prove that their peaceful nuclear programme is in fact peaceful," he said, adding: "Hope India would help us."

Khurshid said India has a "valuable relationship" with Iran but it has "not allowed it to come in the way of our objective commitment to non-proliferation and our commitment to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) because of Iran being signatory to the NPT... And we do speak on these things frankly".

He said India wants to see a "peaceful resolution to the issue".

In the June 14 presidential elections in Iran, moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani has emerged victor. He would succeed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.