June 28, The Iran Project - US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (June 27) the United States would work to allow India to use an Iranian port as corridor to Afghanistan, Reuters reported.
Speaking toreporters after a meeting with Modi in New Delhi,Haley said she discussed with Modi the Indian-backed Chabahar port complex in Iran, being developed as part of a new transportation corridor for landlocked Afghanistan and which could open the way for millions of dollars in trade and cut Afghanistans dependence on neighboring Pakistan.
US envoy reiterated that we know the port has to happen and the U.S. is going to work with India to do that.
She also added, We know that theyre being a great partner with us in Afghanistan and really trying to assist the U.S. and trying to do more. The ports vital in trying to do that.
Despite rising trade tensions between the US and India, Haley, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, said The idea of a trade war wasnt even an option.
Meanwhile, Haley stressed that, "But it was important India cut Iranian oil use," noting that, "Sanctions are coming (on Iran) and were going forward on that, and with India and the U.S. building strong relationships we hoped that they would lessen their dependence on Iran."
?It should be said that India is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil.
Haley, as US's UN ambassador, repeatedly attack and step up pressure on Iran, accusing it of meddling in Syria and Yemen.
On Tuesday (June 26), the United States said it has told countries to cut all imports of Iranian oil from November and is unlikely to offer any exemptions as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on allies to cut off trade with Iran.
US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA, on May 8 and said he would re-impose nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran, this is while the2015 agreement reached between the Islamic Republic and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) plus Germany and also has been passed in the form of UNSC Resolution 2231. The US pullout move violatedboth the deal and the resolution.