Will continue dialogue with India on Iran sanctions: US

Calling India a "valued partner", US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake today said Washington will continue its dialogue with New Delhi on the issue of sanctions against Iran.

Asked if India is undermining the sanctions regime against Iran by "ramping up" trade engagement, Blake said, "We continue to have a good dialogue with many countries, including India, on the Iran sanctions. India (is a) valued partner".

Blake was responding to questions over social networking site Twitter.

As the Obama administration imposed new sanctions against Iran, US had said last week that it was talking to India, Pakistan, Russia, and China about what they can do about weaning themselves from Iranian crude.

"We are engaged in conversations with all of these governments with regard to the importance of implementing existing international sanctions, national sanctions," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland had said when asked about several countries still doing business with Iran.

On the issue of steps against trafficking of persons, Blake said he was pleased with progress in India, Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.

He added, "We all must cooperate to end TIP (trafficking in persons).

Asked about a possible resolution against Sri Lanka at UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva for alleged war crimes, Blake said, "the res. is under discussion; great opportunity for SriLanka to describe what it intends to do to implement the LLRC's recs."

The US diplomat, who has been a former envoy to Colombo, also spoke about Maj Gen Shavendra Silva, who was chosen by Asian countries to sit on a UN committee about peacekeeping but was eventually barred.

"Appointment was inappropriate given lack of independent investigation into end of war circumstances," he said.