Iran Monday insisted that India resume trading in national currencies with Tehran based on a mechanism that New Delhi is following with Moscow as far as purchase of crude oil is concerned, ABP Live has learnt.
This was discussed during wide-ranging meetings between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and key Iranian officials in Tehran during his sudden visit there at a time when China is making rapid inroads in the Persian Gulf post the peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, sources told ABP Live.
According to the sources, Iran has asked India to follow the “same model” as it does with Russia when it comes to buying oil. India had stopped purchasing crude from Iran in May 2019 owing to a slew of American sanctions imposed on that country by the former Donald Trump administration.
Iran has asked the NSA and his team that if India can buy oil from Moscow despite UN-led sanctions being imposed on Russia, then why it cannot continue the oil trade with Tehran that is under “unilateral sanctions” of the US.
Doval met his Iranian counterpart Ali Shamkhani Monday followed by a meeting with their Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who is coming to India later this week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers Meeting.
“Global and regional developments have created very suitable conditions for strengthening bilateral interactions in the fields of energy, transportation and transit, technology and banking between Iran and India,” Iran’s Shamkhani told Doval during a bilateral meeting, a source quoted him as saying.
He also said, “Activating the rial-rupee mechanism is a necessary and important action that will play a decisive role in advancing common goals in various economic field.”
Sources also said that according to Iran, New Delhi’s active participation in political, economic and security initiatives concerning Central Asia and Persian Gulf is “crucial and imperative.”
Afghanistan Requires Joint Cooperation
Both sides also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and vowed to continue working together in extending humanitarian assistance to that country.
India is concerned that China can leverage the peace deal it got clinched between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March, to further enhance ties with the Taliban and alienate New Delhi.
This is the reason why Doval batted for the Chabahar Port project and how it can be effectively utilized as a “gateway” for a “comprehensive economic cooperation”.
Doval mentioned this during his with Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian. Doval also said this will not only boost trade in between India and Iran but it will also help Afghanistan to do more trade.
However, Doval also insisted on pushing the Taliban government to form an inclusive government.
The NSA was also apprised of Iran-Saudi peace deal and was also assured that Iran’s relationship with India will not be impacted with that of the growing bilateral ties between Tehran and Beijing.