United States Refuses to Lift Sanctions Imposed on Indian Scientists for Alleged Aid to Iran

The United States does not plan to lift sanctions imposed on two Indian nuclear scientists for allegedly aiding Iran’s WMD and missile programs, the Pakistan Times reported today (see GSN, Oct. 4).

Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on 14 entities, including two Indian scientists identified as C. Surender and Y.S.R. Prasad, for violating the Iran Nonproliferation Act. Surender has said that he has never visited Iran, but was contacted by Iranian nuclear officials at least once for aid to Tehran’s nuclear program, according to the Times. 

Prasad has said that he had visited Iran, once to “observe” the installation of a Russian nuclear reactor similar to one set to be installed in a nuclear power plant Russia is constructing for India. The scientist also visited Iran several times on assignments from the International Atomic Energy Agency, most recently in mid-2003, according to the Times (Pakistan Times, Oct. 14).

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