As a top US official headed for New Delhi for talks on Iran sanctions a state department spokesperson on Thursday said “it’s not helpful” that India plans to continue buying Iranian oil and go ahead with the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, both of which are subject to secondary sanctions under separate US authorities.

Special representative on Iran Brian Hook, accompanied by assistant secretary of state for energy Francis Fannon, will meet “Indian government counterparts for consultations”, the state department announced Thursday.

The note did not provide any details of the talking points, but added, generically, the special representative “will engage our allies and partners on our shared need to counter the entirety of the Iranian regime’s destructive behaviour in the Middle East, and in their own neighbourhoods”.

From New Delhi Hook will fly to Luxembourg, France and Belgium.

State department spokesperson Heather Nauert said “it’s not helpful” to note India plans to continue buying Iranian oil and the decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defence systems, both of which are subject to secondary American sanctions.

The spokesperson’s observation came a day after President Donald Trump said India “is going to find out … (and) sooner think you think” his decision on its recent S-400 deal with Russia. About India’s and China’s reported plans to continue buying Iranian crude even after the sanctions kick in early November, Trump had said, “We will take care of that.”