In a Meeting with MCCI

Consul General in his visit of Madras Chamber of commerce

Hassan Nourian, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad, has asked Indian businessmen to shed any fears of retributions from the US, and start trading with the West Asian nation.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad Hassan Nourian asked Indian businessmen to shed any fear of retributions from the US, and start trade with Tehran.

Pointing out that India was a big economy which has twice the landmass of Iran and 15 times Irans population,Irans Consul General in Hyderabad H.E Hassan Nourian said that if the US could not do anything to Iran, what would Indians have to fear the US for, the Hindu Business Line reported.

Nourian, whose office is in-charge of the Southern states of India, said this at a meeting organized by the Madras Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) here on Friday, while responding to a point that India Inc was still hesitant to trade with Iran, mainly out of fear of getting on the wrong side of the US.

Terming the US-sponsored sanctions against his country "unfair", Nourian urged Indian companies to make use of the business opportunities that Iran presented.

He also pointed out that Iran afforded access to the big market of Afghanistan (which is Irans Northeastern neighbor) and to the CIS countries in the North.

Iran and India which have deep historical and cultural relations are now seeking to further expand political and economic ties.

India, the worlds fourth-largest petroleum consumer, is Irans second largest oil customer after China and purchases around $12bln worth of Iranian crude every year, about 12 percent of its consumption.

India and Iran have been holding discussions at regular intervals on issues related to economic cooperation under the joint commission mechanism, which was established in July 1983.