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India-Israel space ties irk Iran

Source:PTI
February 05, 2008 19:58 IST

Iran on Tuesday voiced its unhappiness over the launch of an Israeli 'spy' satellite by India, saying New Delhi should have considered the 'political' dimension of the move.

Iranian Ambassador Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh said his country's 'point of view' has been conveyed to the Indian government, which responded by citing technical issues.

"We hope that wise and independent countries like India do not give their space technologies to launch spying operations against Iran," Nabizadeh told media persons in New Delhi.

India had last month launched an Israeli satellite, which reportedly could be used to spy on Iran.

Iranian authorities were not briefed about the launch and when they sought to find out on the issue 'we were told that India treated it as a commercial launch,' he said.

Nabizadeh said India could have considered the issue from a political point of view as well.

"Many countries are trying to destabilise the relations between Iran and other countries like India. We hope our friends realise it," he said.

"We have always condemned Israeli attacks in the region and hope that the regional countries will not help Israel carry out further attacks," he said.

On its controversial nuclear programme, Nabizadeh said Iran requires atomic energy to meet its electricity needs.

"We have been able to evolve new technologies and achieved success," the Iranian envoy said.

He said Iran needs to produce 20,000 MW of nuclear power and the Bushehr atomic plant will supply only 1,000 MW of power.

Without naming any country, he said a European nation has evinced interest in building nuclear power plants but backed out later.

"Russia has now stepped in and agreed to supply fuel to nuclear plants."

Nabizadeh favoured the issue of Iran's nuclear programme to be restricted to the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying 'the Agency is the only body to decide on international nuclear matters.'

"We want the Iranian case to come back to the Agency (from the UN Security Council)," he said.

Source: PTI
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