NEW DELHI – Iran foreign Minister Javad Zarif met Indian external affairsminister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday.

Zarif’s Delhi visit, second this year, is part of his whirlwind tour toRussia, China, Turkmenistan and Iraq amid rising tensions in West Asia dueover a Tehran-Washington showdown.

India is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil, but due to theAmerican sanctions faces pressure from Washington to cut oil imports fromthe west Asian country.

The minister explained his country’s position on the 2015 Iran Nuclear dealsteps taken by Tehran, said sources.

Recalling the steps announced by Iranian President Rouhani on May 8,including decisions linked to the export of enriched material and heavywater, Zarif said that a 60-day timeline has been given to EU-3 (France,Germany and UK) and other parties for restoring the oil and bankingchannels that have been blocked due to American sanctions.

New Delhi reiterated its position on the deal and said it would like allparties to the agreement to continue to fulfil their commitments. With theUS backtracking on the agreement, Tehran is now banking on the EU to savethe deal.

“Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, includingAfghanistan,” tweeted Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry ofExternal Affairs, on the Zarif-Swaraj meeting.

On the oil Imports by India, Zarif said, “the two sides have designed aspecial financial system to augment trade and economic cooperation.”

Swaraj said said India will take any final decision on continuation ofimport of Iran oil only after election results “keeping in mind ourcommercial considerations, energy security and economic interests”.Source:link