Iran, India can avert energy monopoly

Iran Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani has called for Iran-India cooperation to prevent powerful countries from taking control of energy chokepoints.

According to IRIB, in a meeting with the speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Mumbai on Monday, Larijani said certain governments are disrupting energy flow under the pretext of anti-Iran sanctions.
Larijani added “…But all of these are not due to their opposition to us. They are pursuing other long-term objectives in order to control energy chokepoints. Therefore, both sides (Iran and India) should collaborate to prevent others from seizing this chokepoint.”
He noted that Iran favors “sustainable economic ties” with the Indian state of Maharashtra due to its economic significance.
Larijani estimated at USD16 billion the volume of trade exchange between Iran and India, hoping for broader cooperation in agricultural, industrial and energy sectors.
On February 13, an Indian government source said New Delhi will provide insurance coverage for Indian refineries that import crude oil from Iran in defiance of the US-led sanctions against the Iranian energy sector.
A top oil buyer from Iran, energy-thirsty India has already organized emergency cover for vessels carrying crude oil from Iran.