*New Delhi:* In a scathing article, Tehran Times called India a ‘pygmy’over its decision to “buckle under US pressure” and cut oil exports fromIran. Citing the various developments that took place after ExternalAffairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s rebuke of the US sanctions on Iran, theop-ed, written by Syed Zafar Mehdi said, “A few days ago, less than a monthafter Swaraj’s statement, India buckled under the overwhelming US pressure,betraying national interest and confirming its status as a pygmy, ratherthan a giant.”

The article further states, “Incidentally, it happened a day after USambassador to UN, Nikki Haley visited India. India’s oil ministry orderedrefiners to prepare for drastic reduction or zero import of Iranian oilfrom November when the 180-day wind-down period ends. The news stirred ahornet’s nest in India as any cut in Iranian oil mean substantial jump inoil prices in India, which will hit people hard.”

Iran has been the main supplier of crude oil to India, even at the peak ofWestern sanctions between 2012 and 2016, the Tehran Times piece stated,adding that while a volume of business would be affected by the cripplingsanctions, “The partnership never broke.”

The op-ed comes just days after it was reported that the oil ministry hasasked refiners in India to prepare for a ‘drastic reduction or zero’imports of Iranian oil from November, two industry sources said, the firstsign that New Delhi is responding to a push by the United States to cuttrade ties with Iran.

During the previous round of sanctions, India was one of the few countriesthat continued to buy Iranian oil, although it had to reduce imports asshipping, insurance and banking channels were choked due to the Europeanand US sanctions.

“Modi-led BJP government in New Delhi has come under blistering criticismat home over this ‘ill-advised’ decision that will only tarnish India’sreputation globally. Responsible nation states act responsibly withoutallowing anyone to bully or threaten them. By succumbing to the pressure ofU.S., India has not only risked its age-old ties with Tehran, but alsodemonstrated its weak diplomacy,” Mehdi wrote in Tehran Times.

The piece also cited various reactions on India’s move, including those byCongress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Gaurav Pandhi and Ashok Swain.

“A country that aspires to be a global power, a financial and industrialgiant, a protagonist of new international policy, and a viablecounter-weight to China’s rise is outsourcing its foreign policy to acountry that has a terrible foreign policy record. India has just touched anew low,” the Tehran Times piece stated.

The piece further said that no matter what the situation, the mood in Iranremains upbeat.

“India’s foolhardy decision to cut Iranian oil imports under U.S. pressureat a time when the U.S. government has imposed higher tariff on many Indianproducts shows how the power dynamics work. However, the mood is Iranremains upbeat. Iranians are not panicking just because India hasbackstabbed them. The country has seen the worst and bounced back strongerevery time,” it further said.