Source: Iran's Oil Supply to India Still at Halt

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's oil supply to India is still at halt, an informed source at Iran's oil ministry announced, but at the same time mentioned that Tehran may resume oil supply to an Indian refinery since it is trying to pay overdue oil payments through a Turkish bank.
Speaking to FNA on Monday, the source stated that the needed license for the resumption of oil exports to India has not been issued yet.

Iran halted oil supplies to India on August 1 due to continued overdue payments.

Yet, the source said, an Indian refinery is trying to clear its debts to Iran and Iran may continue selling oil to the refinery.

Since December, India and Iran have been struggling to find ways for New Delhi to pay for imports of 400,000 barrels per day, 12 percent of its oil demand, after the Reserve Bank of India halted a clearing mechanism under US pressure.

Earlier reports said that Indian refiners such as Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) have opened rupee accounts in the New Delhi branch of Union Bank of India, which will route euro payments to state-owned Turkiye Halk Bankasi (Halkbank) in Istanbul.

Halkbank will then transfer that money to the account of NIOC, sources involved in the process said.

MRPL and private sector refiner Essar Oil last week transferred a small payment to Halkbank to test the conduit, which will be used to clear over $7 billion in outstanding dues to Iran that have accumulated.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) will make payments next once the test payments are successful.