Nikki Haley also spoke about US' pressure on India to cut oil imports from Iran.
Highlights
- Postponement of "2+2 dialogue" nothing to do with India, said Nikki Haley
- "Rest of the world will know the reason soon," she added
- India and US ties have "never been stronger," she asserted
A day after the US abruptly postponed crucial dialogue with India scheduled in Washington next week citing "unavoidable reasons", Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nation, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "knows exactly why" and the reason had nothing to do with India.
"There is a very good reason. PM Modi knows exactly what. The rest of the world will know soon. It has nothing to do with India at all," Nikki Haley told NDTV in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
"Things happen. It will come to light why this has been rescheduled. But the relationship between India and US has never been stronger in our eyes and I hope in the eyes of India it is the same way," she said.
Last night, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to convey his regret for having to postpone the "2+2 dialogue", which had been scheduled for July 6.
Nikki Haley also spoke about US pressure on India to cut oil imports from Iran and her conversation with PM Modi on the subject. She told the Prime Minister on Wednesday that it was important India cut its dependence on Iranian oil, adding that the US would work to allow India to use an Iranian port as corridor to Afghanistan.
"All of us have to rethink who we choose to do business with. I think as a friend India should also decide is this a country they want to continue doing business with. So yes I had that conversation with PM Modi. It was a constructive conversation. I think for the future of India, future of resources, we would encourage them to rethink their relationship with Iran," she said.
Nikki Haley said the "US sees Iran for the threat that it is. The rest of the world joined in agreement."