The United States has addressed India’s concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on bilateral relations, asserting that there are “no hard feelings” over New Delhi’s stance on the legislation. The act, which could impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, has raised concerns in India, a significant buyer of Russian oil.
A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged India’s need to respond to the proposed legislation, particularly after some US lawmakers criticized India for its Russian energy purchases. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has warned that the legislation could have implications not just for India-US relations but also for global energy markets. The ministry has previously expressed concerns to US officials about how additional sanctions could affect India’s energy security.
The proposed legislation includes a national security waiver allowing the US president to exempt countries from certain measures under specific conditions. While the US official did not specify if India would receive such a waiver, it was noted that the provision could be used depending on national security considerations.
This issue was also discussed during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During the talks, the US signaled its willingness to support nations like India in diversifying their energy supplies, as India continues to deal with substantial energy requirements.
The US official further emphasized ongoing cooperation between the two countries through platforms such as the Quad and mentioned Secretary Rubio’s planned visit to India in October, indicating continued diplomatic engagement on this and other matters.