US might reconsider sanctions on Indian scientists
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-22 09:38

The Bush administration might reconsider sanctions imposed on two Indian scientists for alleged nuclear cooperation with Iran if New Delhi offers "significant and convincing" proof they were not involved, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

The sanctions imposed in late September against Y.S.R. Prasad and C. Surendar -- both former chiefs of the state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India -- have angered New Delhi, which insisted the men were wrongly implicated and the penalties should be removed.

Washington is improving its ties with the world's largest democracy, attracted by its booming technology expertise and commercial market, but India's nuclear weapons capability and ties to Tehran are a serious concern.

The senior U.S. official, who spoke anonymously, cautioned against predicting that the sanctions, which bar the men from doing business with Washington, would be lifted or waived.

He told Reuters: "The Indians are being given a chance now to clarify, rebut, give us any information and we promise we'll consider it."

U.S. officials said the penalties were imposed only after talks with Indian authorities who failed to act.

The issue was to be raised during Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca's visit to New Delhi this week, which focused on expanding a new U.S.-India strategic partnership.

The administration is also considering imposing sanctions on one to three additional Indian "entities" for aiding what Washington insists are Iran's nuclear weapons programs. Some officials said no decisions have been made on these cases.

The State Department did not detail the alleged offenses by the two scientists but officials said it involved aid to Iran's nuclear program during the first half of 2003.

Experts say the sanctions may relate to India's development of an economic way to produce tritium, a radioactive isotope used in nuclear bombs.

The United States and other countries accuse Iran of using a civilian nuclear energy program as a cover for the development of atomic weapons, which Tehran denies.

The administration waived sanctions on Indian companies four or five times in recent years before citing the scientists.

"This is a hugely sensitive issue for the Indians" who fear being lumped with nuclear rival Pakistan, where Abdul Qadeer Khan was discovered running a nuclear black market that sold to Iran, Libya and North Korea, a U.S. official said.

Officials say they do not believe there is a Khan-like network in India but contend the country's borders are porous and export controls must be strengthened.

Complicating the issue, sanctions were imposed soon after Washington lifted decades-old export curbs on equipment for India's commercial space program and nuclear power facilities.

Henry Sokolski of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Education Center thinktank said sanctions are an "early warning signal" of serious differences over Iran.

"You would think India understands we have so much more to offer them than Iran does. It suggests Iran is more dominant in that region and can manipulate its neighbors more than we can," he said.

Both President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry say keeping nuclear arms from terrorists would be a primary focus if they win the Nov. 2 election.

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