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US as a dialogue partner?

Iran, a full member of the group, however, is likely to oppose the move at the meeting on Friday, insisting on a consensus among countries of the 19-member association.
Iran and the US have been at loggerheads for a year now over Tehran’s nuclear programme, which the United States suspects is being used to develop an atomic weapon. Tehran denies the charges and says it is purely for civilian purposes.
Indian foreign ministry officials were tight-lipped when asked about a future US role in the IOR-ARC as a dialogue partner. The US Navy has a large presence in the region with 5^th and 7^th Fleet ships patrolling the Indian Ocean, the Pacific and the Arabian Gulf. It already works in close coordination with the UAE, Oman and Yemen for security in the Middle East.
“We cannot comment on such speculation,’’ said foreign ministry officials. Such talk is premature, they added. The scale and influence of the group may be growing, but India alone cannot take the decision to admit the US, they said.
The argument has been raised that if China can be a dialogue partner, why not the US? Japan, UK, France and Egypt are the other dialogue partners.
Privately, officials and experts believe it would be a good opportunity for the US and Iran to talk at such a forum.
India also denied it plans to mediate over the Iranian nuclear crisis, as there is a mechanism already in place with Tehran speaking to the West, Russia and China.
allan@khaleejtimes.com

• India