India said Monday it may use its own currency, the rupee, to pay for oil imports from Iran in the face of a US-led sanctions campaign aimed at forcing Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme.India has said it will continue to import oil from Iran, joining China in refusing to bow to intensifying US pressure not to do business with Iran.
India currently routes its dollar payments for Iranian crude through a Turkish bank -- an avenue that might be closed off as Washington ratchets up pressure on the Persian Gulf state.
"There are different (payment) options which are being evaluated and discussed. We are also considering the rupee as an option," Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor H.R. Khan told reporters.
Indian officials say the country could pay partly for its Iranian oil imports in rupees that Iran could then use to buy Indian goods.
However, they say Iranian imports of Indian goods would not cover New Delhi's entire oil purchase bill. Read More
