Clinton Presses India to Cut Oil Imports from Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urged energy-starved India on Monday to reduce its Iranian oil imports to keep up pressure on the Islamic republic to come clean about its nuclear program.
Clinton told a town hall meeting in the eastern city of Kolkata that there's an adequate supply in the market for India to find alternative sources of oil.
Clinton noted India has taken some steps to reduce its imports from Iran but she says the U.S. wants to see more.
"If there weren't an adequate supply ... we would understand, but we believe that there is adequate supply," she said.
India could face U.S. sanctions by the end of June if the Obama administration determines it has not made significant cuts in imports under a law aimed at squeezing Iran's petroleum industry to press the country to prove its nuclear program is peaceful.
India, with a growth rate of about 7 percent, has a nearly insatiable need for oil. About 9 percent of its oil imports are from Iran, though officials say it has reduced its dependency on Iranian oil in recent months,
"We appreciate what has been done and, of course, we want to keep the pressure on Iran," Clinton said.
Source: Associated Press, Agence France Presse
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