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Iran’s foreign minister criticised the US for granting India a waiver to buy Russian oil, claiming Washington had earlier pressured New Delhi to halt imports but is now encouraging purchases amid energy disruptions.
Iran mocks US Over Russian Oil waiver for India amid West-Asia conflict
Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has criticised the United States for granting a temporary waiver that allows India to continue purchasing Russian crude oil.
In a post on social media, Araghchi alleged that Washington had previously pressured countries, including India, to stop importing oil from Russia but has now changed its position amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
He claimed the US administration had spent months attempting to discourage India from buying Russian crude before later encouraging global buyers to continue such purchases.
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The remarks come after the United States provided a 30-day waiver to Indian refiners to continue buying Russian oil shipments that were already in transit. According to Scott Bessent, the decision was taken to address urgent supply needs as disruptions in the region affected global energy markets.
In an interview with Sky News, Bessent said the waiver was necessary because several shipments of Russian crude were already on the way to India and represented a quick supply source for the country’s refineries.
He also noted that if India did not purchase the shipments, they would likely have been redirected to other markets such as China.
Araghchi also criticised European nations for supporting what he described as an “illegal war” against Iran, arguing that they expected stronger US backing against Russia in return. The comments come amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States in the broader West Asia conflict.
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Meanwhile, reports indicate that maritime activity through the Strait of Hormuz continues despite the conflict. Iran has reportedly allowed two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas carriers to pass through the waterway. In addition, a crude oil tanker carrying Saudi oil is expected to arrive in India after recently transiting the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical routes for global energy shipments, and developments there are closely monitored by major oil-importing nations.
