Delhi: In a scathing article, link>link>Tehranlink> Times calledlink>link>Indialink> a ‘pygmy’ over its decision to“buckle under US pressure” and cut oil exports from Iran. Citing thevarious developments that took place after External Affairs Minister SushmaSwaraj’s rebuke of the US sanctions on Iran, the op-ed, written by SyedZafar Mehdi said, “A few days ago, less than a month after Swaraj’sstatement, link>link>Indialink> buckled under the overwhelming USpressure, betraying national interest and confirming its status as a pygmy,rather than a giant.”

The article further states, “Incidentally, it happened a day after USambassador to UN, Nikki Haley visitedlink>link>Indialink> . 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 link>link>Indialink> as any cut in Iranian oil meansubstantial jump in oil prices in link>link>Indialink> , which will hit people hard.”

Iran has been the main supplier of crude oil tolink>link>Indialink> , even at the peak of Westernsanctions between 2012 and 2016, thelink>link>Tehranlink> Times piece stated, adding thatwhile a volume of business would be affected by the crippling sanctions,“The partnership never broke.”

The op-ed comes just days after it was reported that the oil ministry hasasked refiners in link>link>Indialink> to prepare for a ‘drasticreduction or zero’ imports of Iranian oil from November, two industrysources said, the first sign that New Delhi is responding to a push by theUnited States to cut trade ties with Iran.

During the previous round of sanctions,link>link>Indialink> was one of the few countries thatcontinued 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., link>link>Indialink> has not only risked its age-oldties with link>link>Tehranlink> , but also demonstrated its weakdiplomacy,” Mehdi wrote in link>link>Tehranlink> 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.link>link>Indialink> has just touched a new low,” thelink>link>Tehranlink> 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 becauselink>link>Indialink> has backstabbed them. The countryhas seen the worst and bounced back stronger every time,” it further said.