Wood said "Certainly, India's obligations under the 123 agreement are very clear and the Indians have agreed to a moratorium on testing. And we expect they will adhere to that commitment.

"We've stressed over and over again the importance of this agreement, not only to the United States and India, but to our overall nonproliferation efforts around the world."

Asked if the State Department answers to a Congressional committee were kept under wraps to make it easier for India to get the agreement approved, Wood merely replied, "With all respect, I think I've said about as much as I can say on the subject at this point".

"... I don't want to get into all of the discussions that are ongoing about the agreement. Obviously, a number of countries have concerns about the agreement. And they've expressed those concerns. We have tried to give answers. The Indians have, as well.

"I don't think it serves the interests of any of us to talk about negotiations that are ongoing, except to say this agreement is important. We think it contributes greatly to the global nonproliferation efforts," the State department official said.

"And we're going to continue to work with India and the other parties concerned with this agreement. And we hope the NSG will give an exception for India to its full-scope safeguards rule," he added.

"... I don't want to speculate on things, but if that agreement is approved by the NSG, then I believe it has to go to India's parliament, it has to approve it, and we'll obviously -- we'll go from there," he said.