A day before the Nuclear deal debate in Rajya Sabha, the CPI(M) on Monday stepped up attack on the Government besides saying they would also raise the “Iran issue” in the context of the deal.

The CPI(M) Politburo member and leader in Rajya Sabha, Sitaram Yechury, alleged that the US’s “larger agenda was to convert India into a subordinate ally” and Delhi’s “shift” in policy was visible in the Indo-Iran relations.

In this context, he referred to India’s “non-participation in a scheduled meeting with Iran and Pakistan” on the gas pipeline issue and said “not going for the project or delaying it is not in India’s interest. It is clearly succumbing to US pressures.”

Yechury said the State Bank of India had “suddenly prohibited” extending their line of credit to Iranian firms and stopping Indian exports to that country.

“Day-to-day developments reconfirm our fears that the US wants to convert India into its subordinate ally in South Asia, even before the Indo-US nuclear deal has come into effect. This is a very ominous development,” Yechury told mediapersons.

The CPI(M) leader said the 123 agreement, which was “firmly anchored in the Hyde Act,” has fallen short “not just of our objections but of the assurances of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself.”

Meanwhile, the two-day Politburo meeting of the CPI(M) began in New Delhi on Monday. Though the meeting is primarily discussing the political resolution for the next party congress, other political issues are also coming for discussions.