April 10, IRNA -- Editor of the English desk of the Indian Sahara Media Group believes that India is warming up to Iran by dispatching two of its important ministers to the Iran following the removal of the Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Miss Arti Bali
said, “The Western sanctions on Iran had forced India to limit its trade
and economic engagements with Iran but now that the sanctions have been
lifted, New Delhi is trying to revive its ties with Tehran in all
possible areas of energy and trade.”
On the current visit of the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the upcoming visit of its Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Iran, she said: “The back to back visits of the oil minister on April 9 and 10 and minister of external affairs on April 16 is a sign of New Delhi’s seriousness in improving its relations with Iran in all economic, energy, trade and political areas.”
Comparing the recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia with two visits to Iran, the seasoned analyst of the world affairs said: “The visits to Iran are a balancing act by India as Iran plays a key role in India’s plans to ensure its physical connectivity with Central Asia and Afghanistan while the Saudi Arabia remains India’s top energy supplier and a host of about 3 million expatriate Indians who sent back over $10 billion in remittances every year. So, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are important countries for India,”
On the possible agenda of the Indian oil minister in Iran, she said, “Setting up cement, fertilizer and steel manufacturing plants in Iran using Iranian natural gas, participation of Indian oil and natural gas companies in development of the Iranian oil and natural gas fields are part of Pradhan’s two day visit to Iran.”
“India is also planning to increase crude import from Iran after lifting of the sanctions on Iran. However, for now, its significant amounts of current crude imports are tied up through the existing long-term contracts.” Arti Bali added.
On the possibility of Iran gaining its past position as a major supplier of the crude oil to India in future, she said, “Iran is currently the fifth largest oil supplier to India after Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria and Venezuela. Iran was India’s second largest supplier, after Saudi Arabia, till 2010-11 and we in India are expecting that Iran will again emerge as one of the top suppliers of the crude oil to India.”
On the current visit of the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the upcoming visit of its Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Iran, she said: “The back to back visits of the oil minister on April 9 and 10 and minister of external affairs on April 16 is a sign of New Delhi’s seriousness in improving its relations with Iran in all economic, energy, trade and political areas.”
Comparing the recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia with two visits to Iran, the seasoned analyst of the world affairs said: “The visits to Iran are a balancing act by India as Iran plays a key role in India’s plans to ensure its physical connectivity with Central Asia and Afghanistan while the Saudi Arabia remains India’s top energy supplier and a host of about 3 million expatriate Indians who sent back over $10 billion in remittances every year. So, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are important countries for India,”
On the possible agenda of the Indian oil minister in Iran, she said, “Setting up cement, fertilizer and steel manufacturing plants in Iran using Iranian natural gas, participation of Indian oil and natural gas companies in development of the Iranian oil and natural gas fields are part of Pradhan’s two day visit to Iran.”
“India is also planning to increase crude import from Iran after lifting of the sanctions on Iran. However, for now, its significant amounts of current crude imports are tied up through the existing long-term contracts.” Arti Bali added.
On the possibility of Iran gaining its past position as a major supplier of the crude oil to India in future, she said, “Iran is currently the fifth largest oil supplier to India after Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria and Venezuela. Iran was India’s second largest supplier, after Saudi Arabia, till 2010-11 and we in India are expecting that Iran will again emerge as one of the top suppliers of the crude oil to India.”
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