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Terming India's continuing ties with Tehran 'a potentially serious barrier to future cooperation' with the US, senior American lawmakers have urged New Delhi to 'cease all military cooperation with Iran immediately'.
In a letter to be delivered to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, senior lawmakers led by Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and Democrat Barbara Boxer of California also hoped India will 'publicly declare your intent to refrain from further cooperation with Iran until that nation has completely and verifiably ceased its pursuit of nuclear weapons and its support for international terrorism'.
India's principles are poorly served and its interests 'damaged' by its support for the Iranian military, the senators have argued.
The sentiments of the lawmakers assume added significance in the context of growing frustration in the Bush administration and Congress over lack of progress in the civilian nuclear initiative with negotiators of the two sides unable to strike a deal on the so-called 123 Agreement.
"India and the United States are natural allies, bonded by shared democratic values and faced with similar threats to those values from terrorism and intolerance. We hope that the coming years witness a further strengthening of this partnership, which can serve as a great promoter of freedom and peace in the world," the lawmakers have said according to a draft that has been circulated.
It is not known if the final version of the letter has been delivered in New Delhi.