Indo-US nuclear-deal: Iran butts in, warns of “new crises”

Dubai: Already under international pressure over its atomic programme, Iran decided to muddy waters somewhat warning the international community that the recently ratified Indo-US nuclear deal "endangered" the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and was capable of triggering a "new crises" for the international community."The method used by several nuclear states to transfer the technology to non-members of the NPT, will create new crises for the international community," IRNA news agency quoted Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation as saying.

"Cooperation in the area of transfer of nuclear technology to the NPT non-members will endanger the treaty," he said, pointing out that though India possessed nuclear weapons it was not yet a signatory to the NPT.

Saeedi pointed out that "privileges" being extended to India, even though it continued to be a NPT non-member, would endanger the treaty.

Saeedi also argued that only NPT signatories were eligible to enjoy the benefits of the agreement.

Last week the US Congress voted in favour of the landmark nuclear deal and president George W. Bush is expected to sign it into law on Wednesday.