India will only abide by UN sanctions: Sushma Swaraj

India on Monday, in a meeting with Iranian external affairs minister, made clear that it will abide only by the UN imposed sanctions and not those imposed by individual countries, in an apparent reference to sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and Venezuela. 

Sources said the issue figured during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her visiting Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif.

A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suggested that the two sides positively assessed the implementation of decisions taken during Iranian President Rouhani’s visit to India. These included bilateral cooperation in the areas of connectivity, energy, trade and promotion of people to people contacts. 

“Zarif also briefed India about the discussions that Iran has undertaken with parties of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following the US decision to withdraw from the Agreement,” the statement added.  

Swaraj conveyed that all parties to the Agreement should engage constructively for peaceful resolution of the issues that have arisen with respect to the Agreement. The other members of the delegation accompanying  Zarif had separate meetings with their counterparts earlier in the day where they discussed measures for practical cooperation between the two sides.

Earlier while addressing a press conference, Swaraj said that India’s position on Iran will remain independent of any other country’s decision. “India follows only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any country,” she said.