Importance of the Iran deal

The immediate impact of the agreement between the international community and Iran could be a turning point in international relations. Iran has not been allowed to increase export of petroleum for over a decade now but in the next six months, these sanctions could be relaxed. The stiff opposition from Israel and Saudi Arabia is expected to mellow down as Iran has not been allowed to enrich uranium beyond the limit required for power generation and has allowed intensive international surveillance. The stiff opposition fuelled by continued anti-Iran propaganda from conservative Congressmen of US may decline by that time. Increased supply of oil from Iran will increase competitiveness, decreasing price of petroleum. Of late, Iran was pressing for payment for petroleum in dollars from India. A relief of $7 billion and the release of more than $4 billion by buyers will ease Iran?s demand for dollars. Payment for export and import in rupees will help stabilise the value of the rupee. US president Barack Obama?s bold decision against opposition from home and allies has changed the American foreign policy. US’s Big Brother-like attitude has been replaced by mutual trust and understanding. India?s stand on the issue so far, however, is not worthy of a a future world leader. It is time India evolved a consistent strategy on Iran.

MK Mahapatra

Pune

Sugar-coated politics

This is with reference to the edit ‘Crushing Sugar’ (FE, November 14). The UP government’s moves are not just crushing the sugar industry, they are actually crushing people for votes. It is disgusting to see the UP government playing with people’s finances for votes. To win over 4 million cane-farmers, it has raised SAP to levels that, if accepted and passed on to the consumers, would cause inflation to rise. But since the sugar industry is yet to be de-controlled, all the losses are getting piled on the mill owners who have rightly refused to start crushing cane despite serious arm-twisting by the state. The government should immediately take corrective course instead of fumbling down the populist path. As time passes, sugar supply will dry up if mill owners refuse to budge, the crop will be wasted. It is then that the government will realise its SAP took the sap out of the cane.

Gaurav Gupta

New Delhi

ATMs? closure

It is baffling that the Bangalore City Police chose to shut down 1037 ATM Kiosks. The closure of ATM Kiosks is an admission of incompetence of the authorities to man the ATM kiosks in the absence of provision of such security by banks themselves. It is as much the function of an efficient and competent government to ensure that the ATM kiosks are not deemed so vulnerable as it is a duty of the banks. Sometimes, the cure could be worse than the disease. The closure highlights the failure of the banks to offer protection to clients and of the government to do so for the citizens.

KV Seetharamaiah

Hassan