Govt works out its roadmap for UN sanctions against Iran

Shortly before External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Iran, the Centre had initiated an action plan to implement sanctions imposed by the United Nations against Tehran under UNSC Resolution 1737

Shortly before External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Iran, the Centre had initiated an action plan to implement sanctions imposed by the United Nations against Tehran under UNSC Resolution 1737, which mandated economic and other sanctions till Iran halted nuclear enrichment and activities related to development of research reactors.

Last month, at an inter-ministerial meeting organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it was decided that separate notifications would be issued by the Ministry and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, enumerating the kind of restrictions to be observed with Iran, given that this is a Chapter 7 resolution.

While sources indicated that India did not have much dealing with Iran on sensitive items, the fact is that the resolution is binding on New Delhi. In the wake of this, the following decisions were taken at the meeting:

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• The MEA will come out with a notification on the government’s implementation of the UNSC resolution that would include “asset freeze” with regard to designated persons and entities who may be associated with Iran’s nuclear programme.

• The HRD Miniistry has been asked to prepare a note of guidelines for issue of research visa and visa for the visiting faculty from Iran. It will be placed before the Cabinet for approval after being discussed by an inter-ministerial committee of officials drawn from the MEA, HRD, Home Ministry, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Incidentally, the Indian Embassy in Tehran is already exercising “caution” in the issue of education visas to Iranian scholars.

• DRDO and the Departments of Space and Atomic Energy will compile a list of “sensitive subjects” barring the supply, sale, or transfer of items that could contribute to Iran’s nuclear enrichment or heavy water-related activities.

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will also issue a notification covering all export and import items mentioned in the resolution and send a compliance report to the MEA.

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• The Department of Revenue under the Union Finance Ministry has been asked to ensure effective implementation of controls on listed items.

Iran’s nuclear issue has been a domestic political matter for the UPA government, with the Left having opposed New Delhi’s position at the IAEA board of governors meeting, well before the UN’s deliberations.

On two occasions, India voted in IAEA with the US and other western countries, calling Iran to abide by its commitments in the non-proliferation treaty. In his recent visit to Tehran, Mukherjee also conveyed the same message to the top leadership. India, however, is clear that Iran does have the right to peaceful nuclear energy. But it also shares the concern of IAEA experts on the alleged links of the country’s nuclear programme with the A Q Khan network.

For India, the key to addressing the Iran nuclear issue is also a full-fledged investigation into the origin and spread of this network.