Bush calls, thanks PM for Iran vote

Close on the heels of the US appreciating India's support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution against Iran's nuclear programme, President George W Bush today spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and reviewed bilateral relations covering the path-breaking nuclear deal between the two countries.

During the 10-minute telephonic conversation initiated by the US side, the two leaders "reviewed the implementation of the July 18 Indo-US joint statement and other bilateral issues and touched on developments in the region," Prime Minister's media adviser Sanjaya Baru said in a statement.

Washington has termed India's vote in favour of the US-backed EU-3 (Britain, Germany and France) resolution at the IAEA "very significant".

US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns had said in Washington earlier, "We were grateful for India's support and it's significant that India was now working closely with the US and Europe to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power."

Bush's telephonic conversation came within two weeks of his meeting with Singh in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and their historic summit in Washington in July.

In the joint statement issued after their July meeting, the US had recognised India as a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology and agreed to supply nuclear fuel for Tarapore reactors, following a series of commitments by India, including voluntarily placing its civil nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.

Commenting on the conversation, White House Spokesman Scott Mcclellan said, "It was a brief conversation (between Bush and Singh). They discussed US-India relations, regional developmental issues, and plans for implementing the July 18, US-India joint communiqué."

White House aides, however, declined to provide any further details of the exchange.