United States Turns to India for Russian Oil

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticised the United States over its handling of Russian oil. On Saturday (14 March), Araghchi asserted that Washington, which had previously pressured countries to halt imports of Russian crude, is now seeking to purchase the same oil from India and other nations worldwide.

In a post on the social media platform X, Araghchi wrote: “For months, the United States scolded India to stop importing Russian oil. Yet, barely two weeks after conflict erupted with Iran, the picture has dramatically changed. Now the White House is effectively begging India and the rest of the world to buy Russian crude.”

Araghchi also condemned European countries for supporting what he described as an “illegal” conflict against Iran. “Europe assumed that by backing this conflict, it would gain American support against Russia. This expectation is regrettable,” he added.

The tensions over Russian oil between the United States and India have a long history. During his second term as President, Donald Trump argued that India’s purchases of Russian oil were enabling President Vladimir Putin to fund the war against Ukraine. Consequently, the United States applied significant pressure on India to curtail its imports, even imposing a 50% tariff on certain Indian goods.

Subsequently, these tariffs were lifted, with the White House claiming that India had reduced its Russian oil imports. However, the Indian government has consistently maintained that its energy policy is guided solely by national interests and is not dictated by external pressures.

The situation shifted again after 28 February, when Iran announced a halt to oil flow through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This move created disruption for oil-exporting countries, forcing the United States to relax sanctions on Russian crude. In response, Iran sharply criticised the United States’ sudden policy reversal regarding Russian oil.

A summary of key events in the US–India–Russia oil dynamic is provided below:

Experts note that Iran’s criticism highlights the perceived inconsistency in US energy policy. With disruptions in global oil supply, Washington’s shift from pressuring countries to purchasing Russian oil underscores the complex geopolitical and economic calculations shaping international energy markets today.