The authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran are planning to import up to 3 million metric tons of wheat from India, according to some high-level government officials.

Iran might be ready to buy Wheat from India in rupees, the unnamed official indicated. A delegation of representatives Iran' central bank are set to discuss ways and means to import wheat from the country.

Iran has approached exporters in Australia, Canada, and Russia for grains such as wheat and corn amid growing pressure form western sanctions. The governments in Europe and the US are urging Asian countries to reduce oil imports from Iran so as to make their sanctions more effective in order to force Tehran to come clean on its nuclear programme. Iran is suspected of covertly developing nuclear weapons, a charge it denies and maintains that it has the right to harness civilian nuclear energy for generating power.

India's union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee recently said that it wont be possible for the country to reduce oil imports from the country, which accounts for 12 per cent of its supply.

Meanwhile, Iran is struggling to find buyers for its crude oil in the international markets due to sanctions by the European countries and US. Iran is aiming to sell additional 500,000 barrels per day of oil to refineries in India and China, according to reports citing industry sources. The crude oil is scheduled for delivery from the start of April, however the country is not offering any discount on the oil.