India, US officials meet to discuss Iran
India and the US discussed the crisis in Iran on Wednesday as ambassador Nirpama Rao called on secretary Hillary Clinton for the first time after taking charge. HT reports.
India and the US discussed the crisis in Iran on Wednesday as ambassador Nirpama Rao called on secretary Hillary Clinton for the first time after taking charge. The US laid out its stated position on Iran, essentially its sanctions that it wants other countries to endorse and follow. There are also the EU sanctions now. In short, there is pressure on India to reduce its crude oil purchases from Iran, which, New Delhi insists, will happen anyway because of US sanctions on the Iranian central bank.
"They also talked about Iran and the EU sanctions and how we can work together - about the US sanctions," US state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said Wednesday. India downplayed the discussion saying it was discussed among many other issues including Afghanistan and Myanmar. "Why single out Iran for special attention," an official asked.