The visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday described Iran as ‘world’s largest state sponsor of terror’ and told India that there is a need to fight the menace and keep energy at ‘right prices’.
“We all know that Iran is world’s largest state sponsor of terror and Indian people have suffered from terror around the world,” Pompeo told reporters answering questions after he held about two hour long meeting with Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.
“We have e a shared understanding of threat (of terror) and a common purpose to ensure that we can keep energy at right prices and deter this threat,” he said in presence of Indian External Affairs Minister.
However, Dr Jaishankar said with regard energy requirements “there is common ground” between two sides.
As regard oil import from Iran and purchase of S-400 defence system from Russia, Indian minister suggested that New Delhi will go by national interests.
“We have many relationships…they have a history. We will do what is in our national interest and part of that strategic partnership is the ability of each country to comprehend and appreciate the national interest of the other,” Dr Jaishankar said.
During the briefing both the leaders were also asked to comment on the issue of US sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which could jeopardise India’s procurement procurement programme of the S-400 systems from Russia.
