US hasn't threatened economic sanctions over Iran oil imports: S M Krishna.

New Delhi: The United States hasn't threatened to impose sanctions against India for its economic relations with Iran, Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna said on Thursday.

India's position is that it is bound by UN sanctions, but "unilateral sanctions imposed by countries or [a] group of countries shouldn't impact legitimate trade relations with Iran," Krishna told lawmakers in a written reply in the upper house of parliament.

India's crude oil imports from Iran are guided by its energy security needs, he said.

The US has given countries until June 28 to significantly reduce purchases of Iranian crude oil or face sanctions.

The Obama administration said last month that it wouldn't impose sanctions against Japan and 10 European Union nations which moved quickly to cut -- although not significantly yet -- Iranian imports.

On the other hand, 12 countries, including South Korea, India and China, remain at risk of sanctions due to continued purchases of Iranian oil, the US State Department said.

Source : zeenews.india.com