May 7th, 2012
05:17 AM ET

Clinton urges India to go further in reducing Iranian oil imports

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday applauded India's efforts to reduce its imports of Iranian oil but urged it to cut them further to keep pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.

"We think India as a country understands the importance of trying to use diplomacy to resolve these difficult threats and is certainly working toward lowering their purchases of Iranian oil," Clinton said in Kolkata, the first stop on her visit to India. "We commend the steps they've taken thus far and hope they will do even more."

The United States and other Western countries are using economic pressure on Iran, particularly on its oil industry, to try to push Tehran into halting its nuclear program.

They have encouraged Asian countries like India, Japan and South Korea - key consumers of Iranian oil - to cut back their purchases.

U.S. officials say India has lowered the amount of oil it buys from Iran in recent months. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government is also wrestling with stubbornly high inflation and is wary of provoking upward pressure on prices.

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Filed under: India • Iran • State Department
soundoff (4 Responses)
  1. know hunger

    Paul Ryan would have us eat weapons, not food.

    May 7, 2012 at 6:46 am | Report abuse |
  2. saywhat

    Indian public is and always will remain averse to any foreign influence on the policy making. They are known to be pretty capable of showing this sentiment too. And the Indian govt knows it.
    On Iran, when the Israeli military, spy agencies, even ex-PM deride netanyahu's stance & majority public is against playing up this "threat' why must we be the devil's advocate.
    The real threat to world peace & American interests is that regime.

    May 7, 2012 at 9:23 am | Report abuse |
    • krm1007

      This is funny. After riding on the communist bandwagon for half a century India is now doing the cleanup for americans with respect to China. What aversion are you talking about?...when the americans say jump....the Indians ask...how high !!! Gimme a break.

      May 7, 2012 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
  3. krm1007

    Indians are and always have been doub crossers and back stabbers. That is their DNA. Instead of lally gagging around ALL aid to india should be suspended forthwith. Kapiche, Hillary?

    May 7, 2012 at 3:39 pm | Report abuse |
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