Austria ? The United States appeared optimistic and reaffirmed its commitment to a landmark U.S.-India nuclear cooperation deal Thursday at the end of a first day of discussions by a consortium crucial to its fate.

But other participants in a meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group suggested it was unlikely that a final decision on whether to give India access to legal imports of nuclear fuel and technology would be made by the time the meeting wraps up today.

Chances of an unconditional exemption for India – wanted by Washington and New Delhi – also appeared to be dwindling.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the U.S. is “very hopeful” that the Nuclear Suppliers Group would approve a waiver for India.