Slim chance of India sanctions

The United States has concerns about India's purchasing of crude petroleum from Iran, but few in Washington or New Delhi believe they will result in sanctions against India.

The United States has concerns about India's purchasing of crude petroleum from Iran, but few in Washington or New Delhi believe they will result in sanctions against India.

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There is no sense of this on Capitol Hill, the home of US lawmakers, nor in the Obama administration, nor on embassy row on Massachusetts Avenue. Think tanks are also quiet about this possibility.

"Iran is the biggest foreign policy issue before the Congress," an aide said, "and India is being watched." They said penalties are unlikely.

India maintains the delegation's objective was to pay for Iranian crude with Indian exports.

Indian officials say they have not detected any significant ratcheting up of pressure recently to indicate impending sanctions.