VIDEO: India welcomes US decision to allow trade with Iran, in spite of sanctions

by **GirlBye** Wed Nov 14, 2018 1:50 pm

India has welcomed the US decision to allow it to continue to import Iranian crude oil and develop an Iranian port for trade with Afghanistan despite re-imposition of sanctions on Iran.

India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said on Friday that India was a major importer of crude oil from Iran and it was very important for its energy security requirement.
He, however, declined to give details about the quantum of oil which India will continue to import from Iran.

During April-June quarter this year, India bought 5.67 million tons of oil from Iran, pushing Saudi Arabia to a third position.
This was India's first reaction after Washington granted waivers to eight countries, bowing to concerns that a complete end to Iran's exports would cause economic disruptions.

Kumar also confirmed that India's prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the swearing in ceremony of the new president of the Maldives next week to reset ties which suffered during the rule of outgoing President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Kumar said Modi has accepted an invitation from president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to attend the ceremony on Nov. 17.
India considered Gayoom to be pro-China as he signed a series of infrastructure projects with China.

Gayoom lost the presidential election to Solih in October.
Kumar said on Friday that India was looking forward to closely working with the Maldives in deepening partnership between the neighboring countries.

The Maldives remained the only neighbouring country which Modi didn't visit after becoming India's prime minister in 2014.