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PM against 'coercive diplomacy' on Iran issue

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it was in the interest of everybody that the problem was resolved through dialogue.

Published on: Jul 18, 2006, 20:41:00 IST
None | By , On Board PM's Aircraft
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Cautioning against "coercive diplomacy" on the Iran nuclear issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it was in the interest of everybody that the problem was resolved through dialogue.

HT Image
HT Image

"Instead of coercive diplomacy, dialogue and discussion must be given the prominence it deserves," he told reporters on board Air India-1 at the end of his three-day visit to St Petersburg.

Singh said South African President Thabo Mbeki had informed him that Iran has sought more time to consider the package offered by the European Union and the P-5 countries.

"From what Mbeki told me, it appears that the Iranians have not closed this chapter. They need some time," he said.

Singh also alluded to the different views emerging from Teheran. "There are various elements in their own administration. They want to evolve a broad-based consensus," he said.

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