India evolving on Iran

The other day, in the wake of Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's UN speech, I wrote:

While Europe may be solidifying behind the US, there's already been momentum behind such a move. Rather, what interests me more is if countries like India, which have been more than sympathetic to Iran, shift their positions.

Now the IAEA board has voted on a weakened motion to "condemn" Iran's nuclear activities. Venezuela voted against, numerous other countries abstained. It's a shame that South Africa -- which famously de-nuclearized after apartheid's collapse -- abstained. But, India voted 'yes.' See LA Times, New York Times, BBC, and Washington Post, .

Via praktike, C. Raja Mohan writes in the Sunday Express:

The Indian decision to vote in favour of the European resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency tonight asking Iran to comply with its nuclear obligations is likely to reinforce New Delhi’s image as a responsible power and boost Congressional support to the historic Indo-US nuclear pact signed in July.

And in the absence of such a vote from India, the administration's deal with it -- which requires Congressional action -- would have died an obscure death in various committees.

The administration ought to build on India's maneuver, by enlisting it to persuade other developing nations to support the isolation of Iran. For instance, most other developing nations on the IAEA board -- following Russian and China -- abstained. That should be the next test the US gives India, considering it made it as clear as possible that its 'yes' vote was based on the most tepid of premises, and denial of any change in position, and an utter absence of any real condemnation of Iran.

Yet, as the United States should make clear, India has a unique opportunity to offer a leadership position to other developing countries that may be inclined to accept an alternative to Russia and China. Since it will want such countries closer within its sphere of influence in coming years, this makes sense.

Comments

[viv]

India did not sign the NPT in 1968 and for decades fought against "nuclear apartheid", i.e. the right of some countries to keep and improve their nuclear arsenals while others(even while threatened by nuclear powers) were forced to forgo them. India had this principle and it is dissapointing that gave up this principle in voting against iran.