The US will have a problem with India doing business with Iran because of Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, former Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said in the capital on Tuesday.
He said in view of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Washington will put "pressure" on New Delhi for support on this crucial issue.
"Yes, they will have a problem with that," Talbott told a leading Indian TV channel, when asked whether American policy-makers have a problem with India looking for big business with Iran, like building a gas pipeline and buying LNG.
"It is a fact because of the very high level of legitimate concern among both Republicans and the Democrats with regard to the threat posed to regional and global peace by the Iranian nuclear programme," he said, when asked whether there could be American pressure on India as far as Iran is concerned.
"There is going to be continuing concern in the US about whether India is being supportive of what the American government and other governments were feeling are necessary diplomatic steps," the former Clinton administration official said.
He said he wouldn't call it a "linkage but there is going to be a connection".
{{/usCountry}}He said he wouldn't call it a "linkage but there is going to be a connection".
{{/usCountry}}Talbott said there was a large American view that "we have given India this terrific (nuclear) deal and we hope India will support us on a related matter, related because it concerns nuclear powers".