US sets deadline for India to stop all oil imports from Iran

The United States on Tuesday refused to grant any exemption to India and other countries from its reimposed Iranian sanctions and asked New Delhi to stop importing oil from Iran by November 4.

Responding to a question asked by reporters, a senior state department official said that Indian and Chinese companies will be subject to same sanctions if they choose to import crude oil from Iran after November 4, when the fresh sanctions against Iran will come into effect.

"The companies of India and China will be subject to the same sanctions. And yes, we will certainly be requesting that their oil imports with Iran go to zero. Without question," the official said.

The state department official said that there will be “zero waivers ever” under the new sanction regime and both China and India will have to cut down their oil import with Iran to zero.

“I would be hesitant to say 'zero waivers ever'. I think the predisposition would be, 'No, we're not granting waivers'," the official said.

The statement from the US came days ahead of the maiden 2+2 dialogue between the countries. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold crucial talks with their US counterparts Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis next week.

The issue of oil imports from Iran is likely to be taken up by Indian ministers with their US counterparts during the 2+2 meeting.

India usually adheres to the sanctions authorised by the United States Security Council resolutions. If it continues with its general position, it’s highly likely that New Delhi will resist the US sanctions imposed against Iran and won’t cut down its oil imports.