20 Apr 2024
Sunday 14 October 2018 - 12:15
Story Code : 323139

'It's not helpful': US warns India against buying Iran oil, Russian S-400s



Sputnik - On Thursday, US President Donald Trump promised that India will soon see his decision on punitive measures after New Delhi moved to purchase advanced S-400 air defense systems from Russia.




The US government is "very carefully" reviewing India's decision tocontinue buying oil fromIran and purchase Russian S-400 missile systems, according toUS State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.
"Certainly when we hear aboutthings such aspurchasing [Iranian] oil or the S-400 systems, it's not helpful," she added.


Nauert noted that she had earlier seen reports ofIndia continuing tobuy oil fromIran, a topic which she said was discussed duringUS Secretary ofState Mike Pompeo's visit toIndia last month.
"The President had addressed it I believe it was just earlier today which he was asked about, that question aboutwhether or not India would buy oil fromIran aftersanctions are reimposed. And the President said and I'm not going toget ahead ofthe President, certainly buthe said we'll take care ofthat," she said.


Nauert's remarks came afterUS President Donald Trump pledged that India "will soon find out" his decision onlaunching punitive measures underthe Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) afterNew Delhi decided tospend more than $5 billion onS-400 air defense missiles fromRussia.
When asked exactly when India would find this out, Trump said: "You will see. Sooner thanyou think."


Although countries which do business withUS "adversaries" are subject tosanctions underCAATSA, Trump has the right togrant a waiver toIndia; therefore, Washington could opt toeffectively overlook the weapons deal withRussia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik last week that Russia and India had inked a historic $5.4 billion deal onthe supply ofthe S-400 Triumf air defense missiles toNew Delhi. The agreement was clinched duringPresident Vladimir Putin's visit toIndia fortalks withthe country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a separate development, Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that New Delhi would continue importing crude oil fromIran next month.
"Overall withregard tothose sanctions that will take effect onNovember 4th and you're referring tothe oil sanctions forIran and countries that choose tocontinue purchasing oil fromIran we have had conversations withmany partners and allies aroundthe world aboutthose sanctions," Pradhan pointed out.


Earlier, Indian oil refiners reportedly placed a contract for1.25 million metric tons ofIranian crude tobe imported inthe month ofNovember.

In September, India and Iran inked a key agreement that would allow them toskirt US sanctions onIran's energy sector, which will come intoeffect onNovember 4. Under the deal, the Indian government will would make payments foroil shipments fromIran inrupees, while the Islamic Republic could use these rupees topay forimports fromIndia.

On May 8, Trump announced the US's withdrawal fromthe 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known asthe Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction (JCPOA), vowing toimpose the "highest level" ofsanctions onTehran. He also urged countries tostop buying Iranian oil fromNovember 4 and threatened touse sanctions againstthose which refuse todo so.

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