Daijiworld Media Network - Washington (SHP)
Washington, Oct 1: External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar declined to comment on India's decision of S-400 purchase from Russia. He claimed that the purchase of arms from any country was a sovereign right.
Jaishankar defended India's right to purchase the missile from Russia despite the threat of sanctions from the US.
"We would not like any state to tell us what to buy or not to buy from Russia any more than we would like any state to tell us to buy or not buy from America," he said.
Back in 2017, the US had imposed sanctions on countries for buying arms from Russia following supposed meddling in US elections and the military involvement of Moscow in Ukraine and Syria.
Besides, Jaishankar admired positive relations between the US and India but highlighted Trump's aggressive stance on Iran.
Earlier, the US threatened sanctions on all countries who purchased oil from Iran. It ended waivers for India as the US sought to curb Iran's clerical fascism in the Middle East.
"We view Iran from the east, and from east Iran has been a very stable, status quo power. For India, we've been repeatedly assured that the affordable and predictable access to energy will not change," he said.
India has been collaborating to expand Iran's Chabahar port, a way to ensure a supply route to Afghanistan that bypasses Pakistan.