Pressing India to conclude agreement with IAEA and seek waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by May, the US on Wednesday voiced confidence that the deadline will be met despite stiff political opposition here.

Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher maintained that the Hyde Act will apply in terms of allowing the US administration to pursue civil nuclear cooperation with India but refused to clearly spell out the fallout on the agreement if India were to conduct an atomic test.

The US official, said realistically, New Delhi should firm up Safeguards Agreement with IAEA and seek waiver from NSG by May to give the Congress time to have a final vote on the agreement.

The US official refused to speculate on what stance China would take at the NSG. Asked whether the Hyde Act would have any implications on Indo-US nuclear cooperation, Boucher said it was a “domestic legislation which determines what we can do.”