Sputnik - Indian officials are scheduled to discuss at length the US sanctions on Iran with a delegation of US experts, which is expected to arrive in New Delhi on July 16.




New Delhi (Sputnik):�India's minister of�petroleum and natural gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, has stated that the country's requirement will be the deciding factor before�any steps are taken in�line with�the US sanctions on�Iran. Pradhan added that there was no contradiction within�the government and that it would make a decision before�the US sanctions are implemented, i.e., November 4.
"There is no contradiction in�our thinking on�any issues. We will first ensure that our energy demands are met. Priority will be given to�national interest," said Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as�quoted by�Business Line.



India is Iran's second-largest buyer and the latter's share in�India's import volumes stands at�10.4 percent in�the current financial year.
"We will first look at�our national interest. India's energy basket has multiple sources now. Our focus will be to�see that our requirement is not affected, and to�ensure this, we will do what we have to�do. But, we will also keep a watch on�global geopolitics," Pradhan said.


The statement comes after�The Tehran Times, in�a scathing attack on�the Indian government, criticized the flip-flop policy and blamed New Delhi for�turning its back on�a promise made by�the minister of�external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, a few weeks ago. Swaraj had�rebuked�the�Trump administration�and�declared that India would not recognize sanctions unilaterally imposed by�any entity other than�the United Nations.
"A few days ago, less than�a month after�Swaraj's statement, India buckled under�the overwhelming U.S. pressure, betraying national interest and confirming its status�as a pygmy, rather than�a giant," The Tehran Times wrote in�a recent article.


The Indian government has indicated that it will make a decision on�crude imports from�Iran after�discussing the issue with�the Trump administration. Besides expecting some kind of�waiver from�the US, the Narendra Modi government is also examining options such as�stepping up�its rupee-rial arrangement for�oil imports from�Iran.