"Although we believe there is no interest due, but as a goodwill gesture oil companies have agreed to pay the interest rate," a Finance Ministry official said. "Seven days US Libor plus 75 basis points equals to an interest rate of about 1.5%." The demand for interest rate was made when Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Iranian Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seif in Tehran on April 9. Iran wanted interest to be paid after differences cropped up over foreign exchange rate. Iran sold oil to refiners like Essar Oil and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) in US dollar per barrel. Around 45% of the oil bill was paid in rupees in a UCO Bank account while the rest 55% was to be cleared whenever banking channels open. Now with lifting of sanctions, Iran has presented its unpaid bill. But Essar Oil and other refiners want to pay Iran at the exchange rate prevalent at the time of buying crude oil in the last three years.