Asian imports of Iranian crude fell 9.2 percent in March from a year ago as India bought no oil from the sanctions-hit country for the first time in at least a decade under U.S. pressure, offsetting a jump in purchases by Japan and South Korea. Imports by Iran’s four biggest buyers – China, India, Japan and South Korea – totaled 1.04 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, government and tanker-tracking data showed. On a monthly basis, however, imports were at a three-month high. South Korea and Japan roughly doubled purchases in March from a year ago, with Japanese imports hitting a two-year peak. There are indications that purchases will pick up from April following the recent framework deal on Iran’s disputed nuclear program between Tehran and world powers that could see sanctions on Iran eventually lifted if a more permanent pact is finalised by a […]