India tells US it will not compromise on oil imports despite new sanctions law

The US Congress has passed a new amendment bill that clears the way for 100 percent additional tariffs on countries buying crude oil and natural gas from Russia and Iran. The law is called the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. The move has raised the threat of US economic sanctions and 100 percent tariffs on major oil importers such as India. Opposition parties have also targeted the central government over the issue domestically, but the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's external affairs ministry have taken a firm stand on the matter.

India's external affairs ministry issued an official statement on Thursday saying the development in the US Congress has been taken seriously. A ministry spokesperson said in clear terms that India is a large and rapidly growing economic power. Meeting the everyday needs of its 1.4 billion citizens and safeguarding the country's energy security is the government's top priority. It said there will be no compromise of any kind on the country's energy security and the interests of 1.4 billion people, and that India will continue to decide its fuel purchase policy based on its national needs and the state of the international market.

India's statement also made clear that it remains committed to sourcing energy imports from diverse sources rather than depending on any single country or source. The ministry said the government will make business decisions related to oil purchases only after fully studying global oil prices, supply chains and changing circumstances. It added that no matter how much political or economic pressure the US applies, India's decisions will always be taken keeping the interests of its citizens in mind.

The government said the door for high-level talks between India and the US on this matter remains open, and that detailed discussions on the subject have already taken place with several senior US officials in recent months. India has made clear to the US administration that the decision to buy oil from Russia was taken not out of any political consideration but purely because of the country's economic and energy needs.

India has not only conveyed its position to the US but also explained how such unilateral sanctions could disrupt the global oil market. It said that if India, the world's third-largest oil importer, were to suddenly stop buying Russian oil, international crude prices would soar, affecting the entire world. India therefore does not see this new law merely as a source of tension between India and the US, but as a sensitive issue tied to the global economy.

To deal with the potential 100 percent US tariff, the government is maintaining continuous coordination with Indian industry and trade bodies. The government said it is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect India's trade and economic interests. A final assessment of how much economic impact the US law will actually have is still being carried out, and India's external affairs ministry is closely monitoring every development.