Under U.S. Pressure, India to Cut Iran Imports

[ChinaToday]

NEW DELHI—India's top two importers of crude oil from Iran will reduce shipments from the Persian Gulf nation by at least 15% this financial year, while an independent report said Iran's oil output had reached its lowest level in 20 years, two further signs that Washington's efforts to shut down Iran's oil trade are taking effect.

India's government has asked state-owned Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. and Essar Oil Ltd., a private company, to cut their imports in the year through March 2013 due to demands from the U.S., said two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The move comes ahead of a visit to Kolkata and New Delhi early next week by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during which India's purchases of Iranian oil are likely to be discussed.

"Definitely, there is a lot of pressure from the U.S.," one of the people said. A spokesman for India's oil ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Obama administration made a renewed push late last year to strangle Iran's oil trade in a bid to get Tehran to give up its nuclear program. Tehran says the program is for peaceful purposes.

According to Vienna-based JBC Energy GmbH, Iran's crude output fell to 3.2 million barrels a day in April, down 150,000 barrels a day in two months. That level hadn't been hit since the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq war in 1990.

The European Union at the start of the year agreed to ban all oil imports from Iran from July 1. Other Asian importers such as China, Japan and South Korea also have trimmed their imports in the first quarter of 2012.

Under U.S. Pressure, India to Cut Iran Imports - WSJ.com

 

[Coltsfan]

If push comes to shove, India will and should side with US against Iran......... nothing to think about

 

[RazPaK]

LOL @ Iran for trusting India.

 

[LetsGetRowdy]

india has been subservient to the usa for some time now. it should be no surprise that they will support the us in their foreign policy.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

If push comes to shove, India will and should side with US against Iran......... nothing to think about

Everyone knows that. When push comes to shove, India prefers the USA.

 

[jai231179]

With Iran facing a potential attack anytime from the USA, I doubt anyone would be running at this point to take their side.

And India is not running to the USA either. We do what is in our best interest, not what's best for our neighbors or the world.

 

[ZABASHO]

even China and Japan have the same effect. Would you say China is sub-servant to US too then?
.:Middle East Online::Sanction-hit Iran denies sharp cut in oil exports to China, Japan:.

And India should side with US when the time comes and it will do so not because of any sub-servant nature as you guys so desperately want, but rather because what and how Iran is doing is wrong and its objectives are against peace.

 

[ChinaToday]

even China and Japan have the same effect. Would you say China is sub-servant to US too then?
.:Middle East Online::Sanction-hit Iran denies sharp cut in oil exports to China, Japan:.

And India should side with US when the time comes and it will do so not because of any sub-servant nature as you guys so desperately want, but rather because what and how Iran is doing is wrong and its objectives are against peace.

Yes but china japan and s korea economy is alot stronger than india it wont affect us as much as it will on india economy

 

[Coltsfan]

Everyone knows that. When push comes to shove, India prefers the USA.

India and US are natural allies..... both are democratic, pluralistic societies ........

I don't expect a communist living under an authoritarian regime to understand that.... so don't bother

 

[yyetttt]

simple India doesn't have a independent foreign policy that's all we can say..

 

[ChinaToday]

India and US are natural allies..... both are democratic, pluralistic societies ........

I don't expect a communist living under an authoritarian regime to understand that.... so don't bother

LOL i dont expect you to understand economy either ... china trade with USA is more than $350 billions ... india trade with usa is a pathetic 20-30 billions

 

[ZABASHO]

Yes but china japan and s korea economy is alot stronger than india it wont affect us as much as it will on india economy

short term, sure, but one also has to consider that given the lack of sufficient payment mechanisms in place for trade, that would've hurted the Indian economy more. And this option seems to be the lesser of the 2 evils.

 

[Fanling Monk]

If push comes to shove, India will and should side with US against Iran......... nothing to think about

Fair enough if you can keep that consistent tune. Don't do it one minute you come in charmingly buying oil and selling wheat with Iran in barter or gold, and the next minute you throw away Iran like a piece of rag when Uncle Sam howls.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

India and US are natural allies..... both are democratic, pluralistic societies ........

I don't expect a communist living under an authoritarian regime to understand that.... so don't bother

Yes, India is incredibly pluralistic, what with all the Dalit burning and such.

As much as I dislike the USA, they are on a whole different level, and far above India.

 

[ZABASHO]

simple India doesn't have a independent foreign policy that's all we can say..

I believe the word independent has lost its meaning on you.

India's foreign policy is very much independent from other countries's policy however it is not independent from the ground realities and situations affecting global politics and economy.