WASHINGTON, March 9: A senior Bush administration official has told the US Congress that Pakistan, India and Israel have not breached the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty while Iran has and that’s why it would be a mistake to place Iran in the same category with them.

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph told the Full International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday that unlike the three nations, Iran had signed the NPT and had committed itself to abide by its rules.

This is the second time in a week that a senior Bush administration official has tried to keep India, Pakistan and Israel separate from Iran, indicating that Washington views the nuclear programmes of the three nations more favourably than that of Iran.

Last week, US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said that the way India and Pakistan had obtained nuclear arms was legitimate, in contrast to Iran, which he accused of pursuing atomic weapons in violation of its international undertakings.—Correspondent