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United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said the US is working with India to secure alternative sources of crude supply from Iran. At a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna here, Clinton said: "The United States was working with India to find alternative crude supplies", after calling on Monday (May 07) for New Delhi to do "even more" to reduce its reliance on Iran, its second-biggest oil supplier and the target of U.S. sanctions. "We commend India for the steps its refineries are taking to reduce imports form Iran and we also have been consulting with India and working with them in some areas on alternative sources of supply," she said. Clinton reiterated the American policy to maintain pressure on Iran and push it to negotiate on its nuclear programmes. "We also look to India as a partner in the broad international effort to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon. The best way to achieve this diplomatic solution, that we all see, is for the international community to stay united and to keep the pressure that has brought Iran back to the negotiating table on Iran until we reach a peaceful diplomatic resolution," she added. Meanwhile, Krishna said that Iran provides major crude oil supply to the country. However, he added that peace in the Gulf region remained a priority. " Iran is a key country for our energy needs, but we have to look at the Iran issue, beyond the issue of energy and trade. In the first place, we have to think about the security and stability in the gulf region," he said.

Clinton says US working with India on Iran oil replacements