‘Good reason to postpone talks, PM Modi knows why’: Nikki Haley
NEW DELHI: A day after the US abruptly postponed crucial dialogue with India scheduled in Washington next week citing “unavoidable reasons”, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nation, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “knows exactly why” and the reason had nothing to do with India.
“There is a very good reason. PM Modi knows exactly what. The rest of the world will know soon. It has nothing to do with India at all,” Nikki Haley told NDTV in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
“Things happen. It will come to light why this has been rescheduled. But the relationship between India and US has never been stronger in our eyes, and I hope in the eyes of India it is the same way,” she said.
On Wednesday night, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to convey his regret for having to postpone the “2+2 dialogue”, which had been scheduled for July 6.
NEW DELHI: Dubbing Iran as a "threat" and "the next North Korea", US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley on Thursday said her country will encourage India to rethink its relationship with Iran and decide whether it wants to continue doing business with it.
Her remarks assume significance as they come after the US told India and other countries to cut oil imports from Iran to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions, making it clear that there would be no waivers to anyone. Haley, here on her first visit after becoming the US Ambassador to the UN, said in an address that Iran is a "theocratic dictatorship" that abuses its people, funds terrorism, and spreads conflict throughout the Middle East. The Tehran regime is the hidden, and sometimes not-sohidden, force behind most of the conflict in the region, she said. Replying to questions after her address, the 46-year-old Indian-american said she had discussed the issue of India's business with Iran with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We do have this in terms of our dialogue because I think that India also recognises the threats of Iran. We understand the logisitics becoming a play with Iran but we have to always make sure that the priority is peace and security," Haley said. Later, in an interview to
NDTV, she said India should rethink its relationship with Iran, as the US gets set to impose sanctions against those doing business with Tehran.
"All of us have to rethink who we choose to do business with. I think as a friend India should also decide, is this a country they want to continue doing business with. So, yes I had that conversation with PM Modi. It was a constructive conversation.
"I think for the future of India, future of resources ,we would encourage them to rethink their relationship with Iran," Haley said.