Tuesday, April 4 2006 09:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States has for the first time said that reports of India 'training' the Iranian Navy were 'overwritten' and the presence of Iranian vessels in Indian ports was nothing more than ship visits involving cadets.

State Department Acting Spokesman Adam Ereli yesterday (Apr 03, 2006) described them as a "limited type of event", adding "I think those reports were overwritten."

"We looked into those, and our understanding is that there were two ship visits - there were ship visits by two ships with naval cadets from Iran into Indian ports. They were not training programmes. That's a much more limited type of event, and doesn't suggest Indian training or Indian contribution to Iranian military capabilities," he added.

Asked if he was confident in what he was saying, Ereli gave a one word response: 'Yes.'

Ereli said Iranian naval vessels also visit a number of nations friendly to the United States, besides India.

"There are Iranian naval ships that visit a number of countries with whom we have good and close relations. I don't think that one undercuts the other." Ereli said the visits would not call into question India's commitment to non-proliferation and brushed aside the notion that the issue was awkward as it surfaced at a time when the administration was trying to push through the civilian nuclear pact in Congress.

"I don't think that visits should call into question India's firm commitment to nonproliferation (and) strong record as a responsible international actor," the Spokesman remarked. "And, let's remember: Who voted to report Iran's safeguards agreement violations to the U.N. Security Council? India. So India has a very responsible record in this regard that I don't think should be doubted," Ereli remarked.

The issue of ship visits and 'training' of the Iranian Navy by India was raised on Capitol Hill by ranking member of the House International Relations Committee Tom Lantos in his meeting with Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran Thursday last.

Lantos had said it could complicate the passing of the civilian nuclear energy legislation. Saran had dismissed these reports and stressed that apprehensions to this effect were 'completely misplaced.'