Trump Says US Granted India Permission to Accept Russian Oil

The move aims to ease global oil supply pressures amid tensions in the Middle East.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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US President Donald Trump said the US has granted India permission to accept Russian oil, in order to "take a little pressure off" global oil markets amid supply disruptions caused by the unfolding security situation in West Asia and the Gulf region. This comes after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil, as the US seeks to keep global oil prices under control.

Why it matters

The decision to allow India to buy Russian oil is part of the US government's efforts to maintain global oil supply and keep prices stable, as tensions in the Middle East have the potential to disrupt energy markets. India is a major oil importer, and has been diversifying its crude sources, including increasing imports from Russia in recent years.

The details

The US has granted India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil, after previously asking India to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil last fall. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US gave India "permission" to accept Russian oil to "ease the temporary gap of oil around the world." Trump said the move was to "take a little pressure off" global oil markets, noting the US has a "tremendous amount" of oil that can help offset supply disruptions.

  • On February 28, a joint US-Israel military strike on Iranian territory resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.
  • In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States.

Scott Bessent

The current US Treasury Secretary.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The former Supreme Leader of Iran, who was killed in the February 28 strike.

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What they’re saying

“If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off.”

— Donald Trump (statenews.net)

“The Indians have been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil. But to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept Russian oil. We may un-sanction other Russian oil.”

— Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary (statenews.net)

What’s next

The US government is closely monitoring the energy situation and plans to ramp up supplies from alternative sources to offset any potential supply constraints linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

The takeaway

The decision to allow India to purchase Russian oil is a strategic move by the US to maintain global oil supply and keep prices stable amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have the potential to disrupt energy markets. This temporary waiver highlights the US government's efforts to balance geopolitical considerations with the need to ensure energy security for major importers like India.