India, facing U.S. pressure, says it will cut purchases of Iranian oil by 11 percent.

Junior Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told parliament that Indian oil refiners expect to import 15.5 million metric tons of Iranian crude this year, down from 17.44 million tons last year.

The United States wants India and its other allies to reduce oil imports from Iran as Washington seeks to increase the pressure on Tehran to halt nuclear work that could be directed toward building an atomic weapon.

Tehran denies any effort to make a nuclear bomb.

U.S. legislation that goes into effect next month would impose sanctions on nations that continue to buy oil from Iran.

Japan recently secured a waiver from U.S. sanctions after slashing its Iranian imports by around 20 percent.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source : RFE/RL