India-Iran-Nuclear
India has backed Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program and said New Delhi would continue its "significant" engagement with Tehran since the nation is an important role player in the Middle East.

According to official media report, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a three-day visit to UAE, said that India fully supports Iran's attempt to develop "its knowledge pertaining to the harnessing of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."
"However, it has to be, in accordance with its own international commitments and obligations, satisfy the international community that its programme is indeed peaceful," Mukherjee said, speaking on "India's Foreign Policy and India-Persian Gulf relations - Meeting and Challenges of the 21st century" in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

He said India believed that the most effective platform to address the nuclear issue is the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mukherjee's comments came on the day when Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog held a new round of talks on Tehran's atomic program.

"And we strongly support the need for continued dialogue between the IAEA and Iran without the accompanying cacophony of recrimination and threats of violence," he said.

"Iran plays an important role in Afghanistan. The international effort underway there would also benefit from greater engagement with Iran," he added.