India's vote in favour of the motion drafted by EU negotiators Britain, Germany and France stirred protests from the government's leftist allies and the opposition who said New Delhi yielded to Washington.

But Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told reporters the vote Saturday "was a considered decision" keeping the country's national interests in mind and was in fact supportive of its longtime ally Iran.

"The resolution as passed addressed the main preoccupations that India had, and those were ... that the Iran nuclear issue should not be taken (immediately) to the UN Security Council," he said.

"This was not something that the United States wanted," Saran said.

The United States has accused Iran of hiding secret nuclear weapons work, allegations denied by Tehran which insists it has a right to pursue a peaceful civilian nuclear program.

The motion passed at the meeting of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states Iran is in "non-compliance" with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, mainly for hiding sensitive atomic activities.

A finding of non-compliance is an automatic trigger for taking the matter to the Security Council which can impose sanctions. But referral would come only after a report by IAEA chief Mohammed El Baradei, expected in November.

"We also wanted more time for consultations which was also something the United States was not in favour of," Saran said.

As the European Union negotiators agreed "to dilute some of the provisions of the draft and make them concede on these points which are very important from Iran's point of view," India decided to vote for the resolution rather than abstain, he said.

Saran's comments came after the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said Sunday the government "caved in to US pressure."

"India should ponder over the fact that Russia, China and many Third World countries have abstained from voting on the resolution," said the party which extends crucial support to the government in parliament.

The main opposition Hindu nationalist BJP party also said India "buckled under the intense pressure from the US."

"The veil is off. India is now firmly in the US camp," said BJP member and former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha.

"A government which came to power vowing to follow an independent foreign policy has finally surrendered its independence to US," he said.

The United States has agreed to assist India with its far-reaching civilian nuclear programme. But US Congressmen had said the help could be jeopardised if New Delhi refused to support firm action against Iran over its nuclear drive.

Ties between Hindu-majority India and the Islamic republic have been on an upswing since a landmark visit to India by then-Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani 11 years ago.

The nations signed a strategic partnership deal in 2003 and have cooperated on key issues including opposing Washington's war in Iraq in 2003.

New Delhi has also been looking at Iran as an energy source for its booming economy, having concluded two deals for supply of natural gas. It is also pursuing talks for a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline through Pakistan.

Saran said India's position on the nuclear standoff was "supportive of Iran." He said India had no reservations about Iran's right to pursue a peaceful nuclear energy program.

When asked by reporters whether Iran appreciated the stand India had taken in buying time for further negotiations, Saran said, "I hope they do."

The vote was 22-1 in favour with 12 abstentions including Russia and China.

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