India should make its own decisions on ties with Iran: US
India should make its own decisions on the relationship with Iran based on its interests, a top US official has said, days after President Donald Trump condemned Tehran as a “fanatical regime” and threatened to terminate the landmark nuclear deal.
At the same time, the countries should take a hard look at their business partners in Iran, the senior Trump administration official said when asked about India developing the strategically located Chabahar port in Iran, which will give it access to Afghanistan and then to Central Asia.
An agreements on the Chabahar port was inked by India and Iran in May 2016 after detailed discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
As per the pact, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.
“What we’re asking is for all countries to take a very hard look at who you’re doing business with in Iran and to understand who are the beneficial owners of these companies,” the official said, warning against business deals with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-controlled firms
The countries also need to have a look at what is the relationship of these companies with the groups which have contributed to the scourge of terrorism, the official said, referring to the IRGC.
Earlier this month, the US slapped sanctions on the IRGC for its alleged support to various terrorist organisations.
Countries doing business with Iran also need to ensure that their economic relationships with Iran do not lead to the strengthening of the IRGC in particular and their ability to do so much harm to so many people, the official added.
Talks between India and the US in this regard, if any, are happening through normal channels all the time, the senior administration official said.
Trump's Ambassadorial nominee to India Ken Juster, who is awaiting the Senate confirmation process, is “going to just really be a fine representative” who understands the importance that the president places on the US-India ties.
And he “is going to do everything he can to advance that relationship to a new level,” the official said.
Officials from the national security establishment from both the country are in regular contact and discuss a wide range of issues, the official added.