SriLanka, April 4 -- Indian refiners are buying crude from Iran as part of their efforts to secure oil supplies amid the disruption in energy flows due to the West Asia war and there are no payment-related hurdles in paying for Iranian oil, the government said Saturday.

It also said that the recent diversion to China of an India-bound oil tanker carrying Iranian crude was not due to "payment issues".

This is the first official confirmation from the government that India is buying Iranian crude, following the sanctions waiver for Iranian oil on water announced by the US last month. The government also confirmed that a tanker carrying 44,000 tonnes of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) berthed at Mangalore on April 2 and is currently d...