Delhi dissimulates Iran policy

[idune]

Delhi dissimulates Iran policy

March 6, 2012
M K Bhadrakumar

When in doubt as to whom to believe – Indian officials or the United Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – Clinton will henceforth win my confidence hands down. The subject is New Delhi’s response to the American demarche that that it should reduce its oil imports from Iran.

Senior Indian officials publicly maintain that India would comply only with the sanctions against Iran imposed by the United Nations, thereby implying they saw no reason to restrict the country’s oil imports from Iran, no matter what the US’ Iran sanctions stipulated.

New Delhi pretends it is expanding India’s economic and trade relationship with Iran, notwithstanding Washington’s containment policy toward Iran.

Then five days ago the Barack Obama administration dropped a bombshell. In the course of a Congressional hearing in Washington, Clinton disclosed that in response to some “very intense and very blunt” talking by Washington, New Delhi is actually taking steps to curb the oil imports from Iran.

The Indian officials who waxed eloquently on the subject are nowhere to be seen. They scurried away like cockroaches facing a torch light. Their disappearing act was for good reason. Reuters has now broken the story that Clinton, after all, was speaking the truth and nothing but the truth.

Indeed, the Indian government has directed the state-owned refineries, which have been the major buyers of Iranian oil to drastically cut down their imports and look for alternate sources of oil supply. Funnily, one Indian refinery still shows the grit to import oil from Iran at the previous level, but it is a private company!

So, it seems the Indian officials vacuously bragged in front of the gullible local media, but when Washington read the riot act, they panicked and began acting just the way the Americans want.

And, to know the truth about an Indian government policy, you’d better depend on the US secretary of state or a western news agency report.

Delhi dissimulates Iran policy | Russia & India Report

 

[Punjabbi Munda]

Delhi dissimulates Iran policy

March 6, 2012
M K Bhadrakumar

When in doubt as to whom to believe – Indian officials or the United Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – Clinton will henceforth win my confidence hands down. The subject is New Delhi’s response to the American demarche that that it should reduce its oil imports from Iran.

Senior Indian officials publicly maintain that India would comply only with the sanctions against Iran imposed by the United Nations, thereby implying they saw no reason to restrict the country’s oil imports from Iran, no matter what the US’ Iran sanctions stipulated.

New Delhi pretends it is expanding India’s economic and trade relationship with Iran, notwithstanding Washington’s containment policy toward Iran.

Then five days ago the Barack Obama administration dropped a bombshell. In the course of a Congressional hearing in Washington, Clinton disclosed that in response to some “very intense and very blunt” talking by Washington, New Delhi is actually taking steps to curb the oil imports from Iran.

The Indian officials who waxed eloquently on the subject are nowhere to be seen. They scurried away like cockroaches facing a torch light. Their disappearing act was for good reason. Reuters has now broken the story that Clinton, after all, was speaking the truth and nothing but the truth.

Indeed, the Indian government has directed the state-owned refineries, which have been the major buyers of Iranian oil to drastically cut down their imports and look for alternate sources of oil supply. Funnily, one Indian refinery still shows the grit to import oil from Iran at the previous level, but it is a private company!

So, it seems the Indian officials vacuously bragged in front of the gullible local media, but when Washington read the riot act, they panicked and began acting just the way the Americans want.

And, to know the truth about an Indian government policy, you’d better depend on the US secretary of state or a western news agency report.

Delhi dissimulates Iran policy | Russia & India Report

For a sec,leave your delusional anti-India stance.
No one wants a nuclear Iran and hence,India is with the sanctions,China also has reduced imports from Iran.We still maintain a cordial relation with Iran and following the good,is...good?..
There are many instances when India has been against US from joint fighter programme to UN resolution on Syria.
Don't worry...every country is not Bangladesh!

 

[lilaspr]

The Indian officials who waxed eloquently on the subject are nowhere to be seen. They scurried away like cockroaches facing a torch light.

Very poor level of journalism... who writes like this?

 

[Paan Singh]

The Indian officials who waxed eloquently on the subject are nowhere to be seen. They scurried away like cockroaches facing a torch light.

Very poor level of journalism... who writes like this?

This kinda article is already posted 4 times and two times by the same guy.

 

[The SC]

Too bad for people with anti Iran stances.
India, China, South Korea and Japan(to name a few) buy more Oil from Iran.

 

[The SC]

For a sec,leave your delusional anti-India stance.
No one wants a nuclear Iran and hence,India is with the sanctions,China also has reduced imports from Iran.We still maintain a cordial relation with Iran and following the good,is...good?..
There are many instances when India has been against US from joint fighter programme to UN resolution on Syria.
Don't worry...every country is not Bangladesh!

The truth is:
"No one wants a nuclear India "
"No one wants a nuclear Israel "
This is a global game to see you true faces!!!

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

The Indian officials who waxed eloquently on the subject are nowhere to be seen. They scurried away like cockroaches facing a torch light.

Very poor level of journalism... who writes like this?

Someone has been masquerading the original author M K Bhadrakumar, here is on of his original articles

India-Russia ties in the neoliberal era

Notice the fact, this like the other fake articles is from a blog.

 

[kingkobra]

The Indian officials who waxed eloquently on the subject are nowhere to be seen. They scurried away like cockroaches facing a torch light.

Very poor level of journalism... who writes like this?

who else?? Mr.Bhadrakumar again...the same guy who writes stupid blogs on rediff....not to mention this is not a news but just a blog too...

 

[idune]

offcourse typical indian comments blinded by denial and "anti india" smell in everything, would whine about points are made in the article. Fact of the matter is article is written by ex Indian diplomat who is not any "anti Indian" person.

on the topic:

1) India and indians often claim their independent policy stand but Iran policy clearly shows that is just not true.

2) Indian policy makers thought opportunist play of double game with US would work. But US with its blunt talk, as Hilary Clinton puts it, called that bluff. And that is not a pretty position for indian strategic standing.

3) India definitely can make choice between following US line and make independent choice where it can secure a regional stake and energy source. But there must have been something more pressing and important for following US line. Indian media and public was throughly deceived on the subject but merit of that trade off is something very important for people to know.

M K Bhadrakumar rather frustrated pointing out these strategic blunder indian policy makers are so casually making. Indians here rather than discussing important issues of the article - pros and cons of the Iran policy, trying to bash who wrote the article, who posted it. That goes to show strategic thinker like Bhadrakumar frustration over indian policy and policy makers are well justified.

 

[kingkobra]

offcourse typical indian comments blinded by denial and "anti india" smell in everything, would whine about points are made in the article. Fact of the matter is article is written by ex Indian diplomat who is not any "anti Indian" person.

on the topic:

1) India and indians often claim their independent policy stand but Iran policy clearly shows that is just not true.

2) Indian policy makers thought opportunist play of double game with US would work. But US with its blunt talk, as Hilary Clinton puts it, called that bluff. And that is not a pretty position for indian strategic standing.

3) India definitely can make choice between following US line or make independent choice where it can secure a regional stake and energy source. But there must have been something more pressing and important for following US line. Indian media and public was throughly deceived on the subject but merit of that trade off is something very important for people to know.

M K Bhadrakumar rather frustrated pointing out these strategic blunder indian policy makers are so casually making. Indians here rather than discussing important issue of the article - pros and cons of the Iran policy, trying to bash who wrote the article, who posted it. That goes to show strategic thinker like Bhadrakumar frustration over indian policy and policy makers are well justified.

Fars News Agency :: Indians Reject US Demand for Cutting Crude Imports from Iran

India's Iran stand a slap for US, says Nicholas Burns - Economic Times

India and Iran are trying best to work a way around the sanctions..

 

[Developereo]

Someone has been masquerading the original author M K Bhadrakumar, here is on of his original articles

India-Russia ties in the neoliberal era

Notice the fact, this like the other fake articles is from a blog.

But the blog is on rediff.com, which is a fairly well known and legit media organization.

M K Bhadrakumar - Indian Punchline

I think rediff would have taken action if the blog had been hacked into.

 

[Kesang]

@ Idune

Forum: Indian Defence
Discussions related to Indian military build up, military developments, defence technology. NO INDIAN STRATEGIC AFFAIRS

Please don't pollute it like bangladesh defence section.

 

[idune]

Exclusive: India's top Iranian oil buyer plans to cut imports

Mon, Mar 5 2012
By Nidhi Verma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's largest Iranian oil buyer plans almost to halve daily imports, industry sources said on Monday, becoming the latest Asian refiner to cut supplies from Iran as Western sanctions make trade with OPEC's second-largest producer difficult.

India, China and Japan buy almost half of Iran's estimated 2.6 million barrels per day of oil exports, but a raft of U.S. and European sanctions aimed at choking off funding for Iran's nuclear program are squeezing its oil supply lines.

State-run Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, or MRPL, could reduce imports to as little as 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the fiscal year starting on April 1, the sources said. It usually buys 150,000 bpd.

MRPL officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Like other Asian nations, India appears to be trying to wean itself off Iranian crude before the sanctions take effect on June 28. MRPL is the third Indian refiner planning import cuts.

"There will be a drastic reduction in volumes from Iran," said one source. "For the next fiscal year, MRPL plans to restrict its term deal to 80,000-100,000 bpd."

Another source said the refiner planned to only import 80,000 bpd, with the option to buy more.

Iran is the biggest crude supplier to India after Saudi Arabia.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GRAPHIC on Japan, China, and India's Iranian oil imports: link.reuters.com/saf26s

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If refiners go ahead with plans to cut Iranian imports, they would cut crude purchases from the Islamic Republic by more than 20 percent in the 2012/13 fiscal year, according to Reuters' calculations. That would be more than the at least 10 percent cut the government has unofficially requested refiners should make, sources have told Reuters.

The governments in New Delhi and Beijing have publicly criticized U.S. sanctions demanding punishment for the U.S. operations of companies that fail to reduce Iranian oil imports.

In public, New Delhi says it will not comply with the sanctions. But behind the scenes, sources at state-run refineries say the government has instructed them to cut imports. It is unclear whether that is to avoid the political damage of keeping the flow unchanged or simply to avoid the headache and expense of trying to find ways to pay for the oil.

Even with cuts of more than 20 percent, India will remain among the top buyers of Iranian crude and so still has to maintain the $11 billion annual trade with Iran. The two sides have held meetings over the past month to discuss how to bypass the sanctions to ensure both can pay for bilateral trade.

China has used Iran's growing political isolation to get better terms than Iran wanted to give on annual oil contract negotiations.

To force Iran to cut the deal it wanted, China reduced imports from Iran during the first quarter so deeply that even if it returns to the same daily flow as in 2011, the average reduction for the year would be 14 percent.

Japan and the United States are close to a deal on cuts in Iranian crude oil imports, Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba told Reuters on Monday. That could amount to a higher-than-expected 20 percent or more a year, a newspaper reported last month, as Tokyo seeks to win waivers from U.S. sanctions.

Japanese refiners are waiting for word from their government on how much they need to cut imports for Japan to garner a waiver from the United States to sanctions.

Refiners are negotiating annual contract deals due to take effect from April, so want to ensure those deals are compliant with government direction.

The United States can exempt countries from the sanctions if they have made substantial reductions in imports.

PAYMENT HEADACHE

Payment problems have already reduced the amount of oil MRPL bought from Iran this year: the refiner had a contract to buy 142,000 bpd of oil in 2011/12, but its only imported between 120,000 and 122,000 bpd, the sources said.

"As was the case in 2010/11, MRPL was hoping to take 150,000 bpd against a term deal of 7.1 million tonnes, but supplies were hit due to payment problems," a source said.

One of the sources said MRPL, in talks with the state-run National Iran Oil Co., was waiting to see how the new payments mechanism would work before deciding on its crude purchases.

Indian companies are paying for Iranian oil in euros via a bank in Turkey, after a clearing mechanism was scrapped under pressure from Washington in December 2010.

As an alternative, India and Iran have agreed to use the Indian currency, the rupee, to pay for 45 percent of oil imports.

Iran has already started paying Indian exporters in rupees, but refiners are waiting to hear from the government on whether they will have to pay hefty taxes before using rupees to pay for oil.

MORE ARAB CRUDE

India's state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp has said it would cut its annual imports of Iranian crude by about 15 percent to 60,000 bpd.

State-run refiner Bharat Petroleum is also planning to cut imports from Iran, according to industry sources. Private refiner Essar Oil is keeping imports unchanged at 100,000 bpd.

Like other Indian refiners trying to make up for the loss of Iranian crude, MRPL has been seeking additional crude from Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, as well as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The refiner is also planning its first-ever import deal from Iraq, although the amount is likely to be small. India is seeking up to 80,000 bpd oil from Iraq.

(Writing by Manash Goswami; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Simon Webb)


Exclusive: India's top Iranian oil buyer plans to cut imports | Reuters

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

But the blog is on rediff.com, which is a fairly well known and legit media organization.

M K Bhadrakumar - Indian Punchline

I think rediff would have taken action if the blog had been hacked into.

That wouldn't be much necessary

Rediff Blogs Help : Complete tutorial for Rediff Blogs

 

[sexy gun]

The THREAD OP is a low life looser who cannot get enough of Iran-India relations.

# either u give us stats of oil imports for this month by India from Iran or give us a link where Iranian officials have acknowledged the above fact. Stop spreading propaganda and get a life.