Thursday, February 2 2006 14:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Ahead of the crucial IAEA meeting on Iran's controversial nuclear programme, the US has said that while it would like India to vote with it on Tehran, the ultimate decision is left to New Delhi.

"We have expressed our hope that they (India) would vote yes. They voted yes back in September to find Iran in non-compliance. We would hope that they would do so again on this resolution. But that is their decision. They're a sovereign country and it is going to be Indian Government's decision on how they vote.

"We would certainly encourage them to vote yes, but how they vote will be up to them," Spokesman Sean McCormack said, adding he was not sure if Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had spoken to anyone in New Delhi on the matter.

On US Ambassador to India David Mulford's comments that there would be a "devastating" effect on the Indo-US nuclear deal if India does not vote against Iran at the IAEA, the spokesman said his remarks merely point to an aspect of the implications of the vote--that of Congressional reaction on Capitol Hill.

He described Mulford as a 'distinguished ambassador' who was doing a 'good job' for the US in India.