Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had told US President Barack Obama that India does not favour Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions but sanctions were not an answer to it as poor people get affected more than the ruling establishment.
“I said to the President that we do not favour Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions,” Dr. Singh told a press conference here when asked about the discussions on Iran that he had with Mr. Obama two days back.
Dr. Singh said he had told Mr. Obama that as a signatory to the NPT, Iran is entitled to all the rights which the members, who have signed the NPT, have on peaceful uses of atomic energy.
“As far as issue of sanctions is concerned, I said to him, that as far as we are concerned, we do not think sanctions really achieve their objectives.
“Very often the poor in the affected country suffer more and as far as the ruling establishments are concerned they are not affected by these sanctions in any meaningful way. Beyond that there was no other discussion,” he said.
His comments came amid moves by the US to garner support of world countries, including India, to impose fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran.
To another question, the Prime Minister said India enjoys good relations with Iran.
Asked whether he would be travelling to Tehran to attend a conference organised by Iran next week, Singh said he had no such plans.
“I can’t travel at short notice, I have commitment in India,” he said but added that India would be represented at that conference.
