Decision on oil purchase after polls, India tells Iran

NEW DELHI: Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told her visiting Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif Tuesday that decision on oil purchase from Iran will be taken after the elections keeping in mind India’s commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests.

Official sources here said the visit of Iranian foreign minister took place at his own initiative to brief the Indian side on the Iranian approach to the recent developments in the region, including on JCPOA, and to review bilateral cooperation. This was part of their consultation with other countries in the region including Russia, China, Turkmenistan, and Iraq over the last few days.

“Zarif recalled the steps announced by President Rouhani on May 8 including decisions linked to the export of enriched material and heavy water. He mentioned that 60 days timeline has been given to EU-3 and other parties to JCPOA for restoring the oil and banking channels,” said an official source.