Iran nuke plan may impact UPA

Iran's intention to resume research on nuclear fuel technology has touched sensitive chords around the world with the US seeing it as a threat.

Besides widening fissures between the US and Iran, Teheran's decision can cause global oil prices to spiral upwards, and bring foreign policy differences between the United Progressive Alliance and the Left to the fore once again.

Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it intends to "resume research on a peaceful nuclear energy programme" from January 9.

IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei has informed the IAEA Board of Governors of Iran's decision to "resume certain R&D activities". The secretariat was in the process of seeking a clarification from Iran on the implications of its decision, a press release said.

Even as IAEA reminded Iran that the suspension of uranium enrichment activities was a key confidence-building measure, the organisation got down to finding out exactly what "R&D activities" meant.

The US has construed it as a threat.

"If Iran takes any further enrichment-related steps, the international community will have to consider additional measures to restrain its nuclear ambitions," said Sean McCormick, a State Department spokesman.

This is the first step towards a foreign policy nightmare for many countries, including India, which has been trying to head off UN sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programme. If the 35 countries that make up the IAEA board so decide, the board can censure Iran by referring the case to the UN Security Council.

This can have a deep implications for the politics of India, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, apart from seriously impacting global oil prices. At this point, India has access to Afghanistan only through Iran because Pakistan denies India transit facilities. Iran and India have had traditionally friendly ties but India's developing friendship with the US "" that manifest itself in New Delhi deciding to vote along with Washington at the IAEA's last meeting "" caused a major rift within the UPA and the Left.

The Left has charged that India is taking a strategic position because of its closeness to the US and that it has abandoned an independent foreign policy.

Though the IAEA can take time to verify the nature of Iran's "R&D", the US is not expected to be as patient.

Iran has argued consistently that its decision to enter into an agreement with the EU to suspend all uranium conversion and enrichment activities is temporary.

Iran has said this is not required under its international treaty obligations and is dependent on receiving a broad range of economic, technological, political and security incentives which have not been forthcoming. It has also insisted that it has a sovereign right to develop a nuclear fuel cycle in its own territory.

After the last round of meetings on Iran's nuclear programme, Moscow put forward a proposal for a joint ownership of Tehran's uranium enrichment programme and suggested that the programme hub be located in Russian territory.

Iran's National Security Council Secretary General Ali Larijani said, though Iran was considering the proposal, "it would not be logical to allow another country to determine Iran's fate concerning its future nuclear fuel needs".