On a surprisingly sharp note, India, on Tuesday, April 22, asked the United States not to offer ‘any guidance’ as far as its handling of bilateral ties with Iran is concerned. It stated that both New Delhi and Tehran are ‘perfectly capable’ of taking care of all aspects of their relationship. This retort from India came after the US once again interfered into the fragile Indo-Iranian relationship. The US was trying to dictate New Delhi to talk tough with Tehran about its controversial nuclear programme during Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit here next week.

 

India's quick and curiously sharp reply can be viewed as an echoing of its belief that the US is barking up the wrong tree by trying to isolate Iran internationally. What really required is a process to fruitfully engage Tehran via diplomatic dialogue as it is well within its rights to pursue a civilian nuclear energy programme within the ambit of international obligations and commitments. Earlier too, the US state department had suggested India to ask Iranian president to halt his country's uranium enrichment activities, which irked Indian political parties.