U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is stepping up pressure on India to further reduce its Iranian oil imports.
The sanctions threaten to shut out Iranian oil importers from the U.S. financial system unless they make significant and continuing cuts to their crude purchases by an end-June deadline.
At a townhall style meeting she made clear Washington wants to see more action before on the Iranian sanctions front before granting New Delhi a waiver from U.S. financial sanctions.
(S0UNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SAYING :
"So we think India as a country that understands the importance of trying to use diplomacy to resolve these difficult threats is certainly working toward lowering their purchase of Iranian oil. And we commend the steps that they have taken thus far. We hope they will do even more and we believe there is an adequate supply in the marketplace."
Clinton also pressed the Iranian oil issue in meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Oil has become an irritant in ties between India and the United States during Clinton's three day visit. India is unwilling to be seen to be bowing to U.S. pressure, to further reduce imports from its second largest supplier and is reluctant to become too reliant on Saudi Arabia for its oil needs.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
