US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday urged India to do “even more” to cut its purchases of oil from sanctions-hit Iran to keep pressure on that country to to prove its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Ms. Clinton, however, commended the steps taken by India so far in lowering purchases of Iranian oil.
“India is certainly working towards lowering purchases of Iranian oil. We commend the steps they have taken thus far. We hope they will do even more,” she told a public event in Kolkata on the first leg of her visit to India that will also take her to Delhi.
Ms. Clinton’s remarks came when she was asked why the U.S. wants India to reduce oil imports from Iran when India is not an oil producing nation.
The U.S.’ top diplomat also said there was adequate oil supplies available from countries like Saudi Arabia.
Pressing India to further reduce oil imports from Iran tops the agenda of Ms. Clinton who flew into Kolkata on Sunday at the start of a three-day visit to India.
The U.S. has been urging India and other countries to slash oil imports from Iran aimed at stepping up pressure on Tehran to comply with international demands over its nuclear programme.
Ms. Clinton said it could be “devastating” for the world if Iran developed a nuclear bomb.
She said that Iran has been regularly flouting international obligations especially its insistance on nuclear proliferation.
“The international community feels that Iran has to be pressurized into changing its behavior, and it is this pressure that has convinced Iran to come back to the negotiating table,” she said.
“We think that India as a country will understand the causes for trying to use the policy to resolve the difficult issue and it is certainly working towards lowering the purchase of Iranian oil,” Ms. Clinton said elaborating on her remarks on what US expected India to do on the Iranian issue.
“We cannot accept that that they (India) have taken it that far. We hope that they will do even more. We believe there is adequate supply of oil in the market place as Saudi Arabia, Iran and other suppliers are putting oil,” she said.
“We think this is India’s role in the international community,” she said.
Ms. Clinton said the international community has imposed sanctions Iran for its attempt to destabilise the region for developing nuclear weapons.
“We appreciate what India and other countries can do to help us. Arms race in the region is feared as Iran pursues its nuclear programme. We appreciate India’s stand to help us maintain pressure on Iran,” she said.
Ms. Clinton said India, China, Japan and other European countries are being asked to lower their supplies to keep pressure on Iran.
She said that imposition of sanctions on Iran had pressurised the country to come back to the negotiating table and there is unanimity amongst the members of the Security Council, EU and Germany to negotiate a resolution to the Iranian nuke issue.
Keywords: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, India, Iran, oil imports, U.S., town hall meeting
We socialist Indians belive that, Iran willnot be as devastating as US in the case of Nuclear energy as US has a history that they have used the Nuclear Wepon against a country and still stood as a Universal Shame of the Mordern world.
US has no right to say anything about humanity as they prettended to be world police and try to get in to the internal affairs of a number of republics in this world.
The capitalist leaders in India is a shame for us because, they are compromising India's Supremacy and it will have long tearm effects on India's foering policies. We need to go back to Socialist leaders who has mordern vision. If we had an agressive leader, Mrs: clinton wouldn't have dared to state this being in this land.
Ms.Clinton has no rights to interfere in the internal issues of India ...Regarding the Teesta issues with Bangladesh ,what are our political leaders doing in the centre ....why is an external party involving themselves in the issues within the state ...Are our leaders in the centre not caliber enough to discuss within ourselves and come out with a stern remedy with Mamata and the Teesta ....All of us should remember that India is one nation and no state can stay aloof stating that they are separate ....This particular situation is some what like a stranger interfering with the internal matters of a family without the permission of elders in the house.If this scenario continues,it won't be far away the days when India would be split into different states like USSR with continuous wars within themselves,which is what the US needs to promote their weapons in the name of an unknown war and war like situations to quench the thirst of their superiority.It is US who destroyed IRAQ and Afghantan.
As a part of international statergey and politic, economic power of the world, United States had send their Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on India Visit to put additional presure to cut its purchases of oil from sanctions-hit Iran. Considering the oil stock of U.S. it appears that although it has put pressure on the Iran, it will be not affect US. besides that India is a major importer of oil from Iran and also depends upon country like Iran, Saudi Arabia etc. if India agrees to put pressure on Iran it seem that it will affect relations between Indian and Iran and that cause additional inflation. in my opinion India should refrain such types of pressure.
Two cunning ploys are at play here. First, dependence on Saudi oil means depending on American and British companies that are actively involved in Saudi oil production. Secondly, trying to intimidate Iran will ensure they are forced to, out of intimidation, take up a stance that will perhaps justify military occupation after which, the whole drama of American regime change, dummy democracy and exploitation will begin. India would be stupid to fall for either of these.
Government of India committed to people of India before the world! We can't take it granded by just highest official of America's judgements. We respected in IRAQ war and now feeling guilty of supporting US. We can't repeat! We can't repeat the mistake! We can't tolerate any more guilty concious of killing thousands of innocents.IRANIANS are also our brothers.
Sorry Ms Clinton,it's not possible for energy starved and a developing country like India where there are millions below poverty line to stop importing oil from Iran which supplies oil at a better price than Saudi Arabia and more over your policies on Iran are too Harsh, and by killing their scientists by Israel spy agents are making the matters even worse,so please change your policies before requesting us to change.
India is as good a democracy than the United states or perhaps better. There are better think tanks in India, who can secure the energy future from the most economical means. The whole exercise is to secure the viability of US Dollar, that has sent america in panic mode. So my dear country men, we should make doubly sure act in our best interests and not for other's.
You cannot let your neighbours decide the amount of grocery you want to buy for your household & from where to buy it.
I hope India will take a bold decision against US's 'forced' denial of buying Iranian oil. India is 'republic democratic' and this is a test for India to use its republic status that India is not depended on some developed/sinking country and have the guts to choose what India thinks instead of some other power. It is for sure that we want US for our IT, and other markets but that does not mean that US should interfere India's internal decision makings- that is like US actions in Middle Eastern governments. Wrong US! -- India is a Democratic Republic and people have the right to choose how our country is dealing with our neighbors such as Iran for whatever reasons- it is none of US's business. Moreover, India do not think Iran possess any nuclear weapons that destruct the whole world as some 'hollywood directors' or biased US politicians say! Iran is a country just like any other country with millions of people trying to get a day's meal and trying to live peacefully!
please read the following news in which Hilary Clinton not appealing from India to reduce oil import from Iran but threaten India if India could not reduce oil import will face sanctions from Obama administration.Will our backbone less foreign ministry clarify nation about this threatening?Why our government is silent over this issue? Has India accepted slavery of America who will decide what should be our foreign policy? Is this statement of Ms. Clinton interference in nation's policy? But America is doing this since our American agent Mr. honest prime minister is on America side and speaking same languages as America wants to hear.Earlier foreign ministry was trying to import from Iran through pipeline,now thinking to reduce import.Nation wants to know what is it? We are lagging behind America without thinking bad effects.Must India ask from America why sanctions on Iran since Iran is developing nuclear alternatives than why America maintaining huge number of nuclear weapons?
Its hard for me to understand why is USA alone superpower who is worried by Iran's nuclear weapons attainment ? Is it that Iran is a Islamic Country ?
Let the United states of America lead the way by cutting down on it's imports from saudi arabia which is ruled by a monarch who is not all that popular with his subjects and then India will start drawing lessons from the US of A
On what authority is she meddling with India's foreign policy . It should be the Indian people and its economy that should influence the policy rather than a self serving imperialist agent.
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