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New payment mechanism can help tide over US constraints: Former Ambassador

India-Iran relations are going through a rough patch after India decided to cease purchase of crude oil following US refusal to extend its waivers. Former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat claimed that a new payment mechanism will help bypass economic sanctions by the US.

New payment mechanism can help tide over US constraints: Former Ambassador
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Published : May 16, 2019, 12:29 PM IST

New Delhi: Following tension between the United States and Iran over lifting of sanction waivers on oil trade, former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat claimed that a new payment mechanism will help bypass economic sanctions by the US as Tehran understands India's stand on oil purchase.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, the former Ambassador claimed that US-Iran relation will have an impact on every oil importing country.

Iran understands India's constraints regarding oil purchase: Former Ambassador

"India depends on West Asia for almost 80% of its import. The Trump administration's policy to redraw the nuclear deal with Iran, which was agreed by providing necessary economic waivers is causing tension in the region," he claimed.

India had ceased purchasing oil from Iran after the US refused to extend waivers on oil trade.

After exemptions expired on May 2, India said it will deal with the issue based on three factors -- the country's energy security, commercial consideration, and economic interests.

Speaking about the uncertainty in the India-Iran relations at the moment, Trigunayat said that Iran is a strategic partner in the region and both the nations have a long term view on the issues.

He also claimed that building a new payment mechanism will help India avoid economic sanctions and continue to meet its energy requirement via imports.

"A Riyal-Rupee payment mechanism will ensure trade with Iran without falling into US sanctions," he said.

Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The talks were focused on the impact of the US ending waivers on import of oil from Iran and the ways to deal with it.

  • Relations spanning millennia

    EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister @JZarif held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/bF04by3HLj

    — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 14, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data=" ">

Read: Swaraj meets Iranian counterpart, US oil sanctions likely agenda

New Delhi: Following tension between the United States and Iran over lifting of sanction waivers on oil trade, former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat claimed that a new payment mechanism will help bypass economic sanctions by the US as Tehran understands India's stand on oil purchase.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, the former Ambassador claimed that US-Iran relation will have an impact on every oil importing country.

Iran understands India's constraints regarding oil purchase: Former Ambassador

"India depends on West Asia for almost 80% of its import. The Trump administration's policy to redraw the nuclear deal with Iran, which was agreed by providing necessary economic waivers is causing tension in the region," he claimed.

India had ceased purchasing oil from Iran after the US refused to extend waivers on oil trade.

After exemptions expired on May 2, India said it will deal with the issue based on three factors -- the country's energy security, commercial consideration, and economic interests.

Speaking about the uncertainty in the India-Iran relations at the moment, Trigunayat said that Iran is a strategic partner in the region and both the nations have a long term view on the issues.

He also claimed that building a new payment mechanism will help India avoid economic sanctions and continue to meet its energy requirement via imports.

"A Riyal-Rupee payment mechanism will ensure trade with Iran without falling into US sanctions," he said.

Recently, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The talks were focused on the impact of the US ending waivers on import of oil from Iran and the ways to deal with it.

  • Relations spanning millennia

    EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister @JZarif held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/bF04by3HLj

    — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 14, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data=" ">

Read: Swaraj meets Iranian counterpart, US oil sanctions likely agenda

Intro:After the bilateral meet between the foreign ministers of India and Iran on Tuesday couldn't fetch any results over the purchase of crude oil from the latter, former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat claimed that Tehran understands India's compulsions.


Body:Calling Iran, a strategic partner of India, former Ambassador Trigunayat who have spent the longest period of his service in the middle-east claimed that importing oil from Iran will be a challenge as the entire banking channel is controlled by the Americans.

Pointing towards INSTEX (Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges), a new payment mechanism created by U.K, France and Germany to carry on their trade with Iran without falling foul of U.S sanctions, Anil Trigunayat said that if India wants to continue business with Iran then it needs create such payment mechanism.






Conclusion:Talking about India's high-dependency on West Asian countries to meet its energy requirements, the former diplomat stressed that India not only needs identify more sources of importing oil but also look out for other options.

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