US, India united against Iran's nuclear programme: US envoy

Hyderabad, Feb 23
The United States and India are united in opposing Iran's nuclear programme, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said here Monday.

He said the economic sanctions against Iran would remain in place till the Iranian leadership gives up its pursuit of the nuclear weapon.

He was replying to a query by an Iranian student during an interaction at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here Monday night.

The student drew the ambassador's attention to the delay in India's proposed investment in Chabahar Port in Iran due to the sanctions against Tehran.

"Part of the reason we are so excited about this relationship with India is that we have lot of values in common. Support of rules based order, support of democracy, support of tolerance and diversity. We also share similar security interests. We don't agree on every foreign policy question but on the question whether Iran should have nuclear weapon, we are united. We have stand opposed to that," he said.

Verma said India had voiced its opinion through the United Nations Security Council process.

"We obviously have strong views on that. The economic sanctions are a tool that we can use to help change Iran's calculus in this matter. As President (Barack Obama) has said many times, we would welcome robust relationship with people of Iran. We think it would be in the interest of Iranian leadership to give up its pursuit of nuclear device but until that time the sanctions regime is comprehensive and it will remain in place."