India Saturday said the International Atomic Energy Agency resolution for reporting Iran's nuclear issue to the United Nations Security Council was "well-balanced" and asserted that its support to the move should "not be interpreted" as being "detracting from the traditionally close and friendly" relations with Tehran.
Shortly after the resolution was approved by the 35-member UN nuclear watchdog with 27 countries supporting it, an external affairs ministry spokesman said the resolution has won a period of six weeks, before the March IAEA Board meeting for diplomatic efforts to continue and to get negotiations between the EU-3 and Iran back on track.
"It has been our consistent position that confrontation should be avoided and any outstanding issue ought to be resolved through dialogue," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman said.
He said the resolution provides an opportunity for serious consideration of the Russian proposal for a joint venture with Iran for uranium enrichment.
"Our vote in favour of the resolution should not be interpreted as in any way detracting from the traditionally close and friendly relations we enjoy with Iran," the spokesman said.