August 03, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 30, 1429

TEHRAN, Aug 2: Iran has accused the United States of double standards over its nuclear deal with India, Iranian media said on Saturday.

Talking to the state Press TV satellite station, Iran’s representative to the Vienna-based IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, criticised US policy after governors of the IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, on Friday approved an inspections plan for India, an important step towards completing a nuclear trade accord between New Delhi and Washington.

“Iran expresses its grave concern regarding the double standards used by the United States,” Soltanieh was quoted as saying by Iran’s ISNA news agency.

He accused the United States of a discriminatory move and of violating the spirit and letter of the NPT, while he said Iran faced restrictions and was being deprived from access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Press TV reported.

Friday’s decision in Vienna removes a barrier to an accord that would allow exports of nuclear fuel and technology to India for civilian use.—Reuters