India welcomes agreement over Iran's nuclear programme

New Delhi: India today welcomed the understanding reached between Iran and the six world powers on Tehran's contentious nuclear programme and hoped that this would lead to a comprehensive agreement by June 30.

"A significant step seems to have been taken with agreement on the parameters of a comprehensive settlement to be negotiated by June 30," External Affairs Ministry said in statement, welcoming the understanding announced in Lausanne between Iran and the P5+1 group on the nuclear issue.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, "India has always maintained that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully by respecting Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy as also the international community's strong interest in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme."

Stating that yesterday's announcement underlines the success of diplomacy and dialogue, he said, India has always supported it and hopes that it would lead to a comprehensive agreement by June 30.

After marathon talks in Switzerland, Iran and six world powers agreed last night on the framework of a potentially historic deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear programme, a major breakthrough in a 12-year standoff.

The framework, agreed between Iran and the West raised hopes that the deal could help stability in the Middle East. Iran has agreed to curtail its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of punishing sanctions.