UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14: US President George W. Bush has expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear programme to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Washington moved to rally support for possible UN sanctions against the Islamic republic, officials said on Wednesday.

Bush held an impromptu meeting with Singh on the sidelines of a UN summit late on Tuesday and discussed the Iranian nuclear issue, just hours after expressing similar concern to Chinese leader Hu Jintao.

“The president said the current developments (in Iran) were causing some concern,” Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said as he briefed reporters of the second meeting between the two leaders since July.

Bush did not specifically link India’s ties with Tehran while raising Iran’s controversial nuclear programme with Singh, Saran said.

The United States has accused Iran of secretly trying to build nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy programme.

Western powers have warned they will push for Iran’s nuclear case to be sent to the Security Council — which could impose sanctions — if Tehran does not halt all nuclear fuel work and resume negotiations with the European Union.

India has come under attack in the US Congress over its growing energy and other economic cooperation with Iran.

Some legislators warned that if New Delhi did not support Washington’s bid to refer Iran to the Security Council, the Bush administration should freeze its landmark agreement to expand nuclear cooperation with India.

The nuclear pact, which could only be implemented after Congress amended certain US laws, is part of a bold strategic partnership announced by Bush after talks with Singh in July.

Singh reiterated to Bush that India was firmly against nuclear proliferation and wanted the issue resolved diplomatically.

“The prime minister reiterated our considered stand. India is resolutely opposed to any nuclear proliferation and makes no distinction,” Saran said.—AFP