If the IAEA signs the agreement, the deal will go to the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulates global civilian nuclear trade, for approval.

BBC: India MPs hold vote of confidence

As a dying act, it could submit the agreement to the IAEA's board, and hope that fair winds and American stewardship see it through.

ECONOMIST: India

Ms Rice has made it clear that US support will depend on whether the two can reach agreement over the IAEA's position on Iran.

BBC: ElBaradei's position on Iran has irked the US

He worked closely with the White House in the final months of his tenure at the IAEA to try to forge an agreement with Iran that would have seen Tehran ship out the majority of its low-enriched uranium to a third country.

WSJ: In Upheaval, ElBaradei Is a Wild Card

India now needs to negotiate a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and win the consensus of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group so that the Bush administration can present the deal to Congress for a final vote before the end of 2007.

BBC: NEWS | South Asia | Is India-US nuclear accord dead?

The fourth stage would see IAEA certification of there no longer being any undisclosed nuclear activities and agreement over the parameters of Iran's civil nuclear needs.

ECONOMIST: Iran and nuclear weapons

IAEA, and then the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, into an internationally-approved agreement.

ECONOMIST: Indian politics