NEW DELHI: Two days after triggering a domestic political storm by voting for an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution, which said Iran was not complying with the IAEA statute, India claimed that much of its diplomatic effort was made "on behalf" of Teheran.

Pointing out that India was in touch with the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France and Britain as well as Iran, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told the media here on Monday that India was successful in persuading the European Union "three" not to refer Iran immediately to the United Nations Security Council and allow time for discussions.

"Having got them [the EU-3] to agree to what we wanted, then to say we will only abstain on the resolution would not have been the correct position for us to take."

Asked whether India adopted a more pro-West foreign policy, Mr. Saran said, "I do not think that you should interpret India's position as being aligned on the left or on the right or aligned with this [or that] group of countries... The question of this representing a shift in India's foreign policy does not arise."

Mr. Saran said uranium conversion by Iran did not constitute a violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. "It is not. I have already said it is not."

Energy security

He saw no reason why India's energy security would be affected following the IAEA vote. "We have been playing a role which has been supportive of Iran. I see no reason why there should be apprehension that there would be any kind of impact on our energy security."

To another question, Mr. Saran said: "I think the decision concerning the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline is a decision which will be taken on the basis of the economic viability of the project. If this is a project which will enhance India's energy security, if it is a project which is going to be economical from India's point of view, it would be in our national interest and we would go ahead."

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