On Eve of Indian Nuclear Deal Talks, Markey Calls for India to Break Ties with Iran

Press Release

ON EVE OF INDIAN NUCLEAR DEAL TALKS, MARKEY CALLS FOR INDIA TO BREAK TIES WITH IRAN

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Indian politicians planned to meet for discussions on the U.S.-India nuclear deal tomorrow, Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a leading proponent of the global Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, called on India to break economic and military ties with Iran.

In December 2006 when the U.S. Congress preliminarily approved the India nuclear cooperation agreement, the Congress required India's "full and active participation" in efforts to end Iran's nuclear weapons program. Instead, India has spent the last year building its relationship with Iran, much to the dismay of U.S. lawmakers.

"The Indian government knows full well that Congress has demanded India's full support in ending Iran's nuclear program as a key requirement for the U.S.-India nuclear deal. India's continuing to cozy up to Iran, a country that has blatantly disregarded international pressure to end its nuclear program, is undermining our ability to isolate Tehran," said Rep. Markey.

"India has a place in the global nonproliferation system, but this deal negotiated by President Bush was a bad idea from the start. The terms of the deal are mind-boggling -- in essence promising to keep the uranium flowing even if India explodes another bomb.

"As the Indian Prime Minister has said, the failure of this deal will not derail the U.S.-India relationship. The trade between our countries has grown at an incredible pace, and will continue to do so. The collapse of this deal would be a great thing for nonproliferation at very little cost to the bilateral U.S.-Indian relationship," Rep. Markey concluded.

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