US President Donald Trump has responded to Washington giving India “permission” to buy Russian oil amid ongoing concerns over oil reserves in the wake of the Iran-US war, saying he only did so to relieve “a little pressure”.
His comments come two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Besent announced that the United States would grant a “temporary” 30-day waiver to Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian energy. He explained that this measure would not help Russia achieve significant financial gains, “because it only allows transactions related to oil that is already stuck in the sea.” Follow live updates of US-Iran war news
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While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about the temporary waiver for India and whether the US was considering any other options, including the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The US President responded by saying: “If there were some, I would do it just to relieve a little pressure, the oil pressure.”
He added: “But there is a lot of oil. We have a lot of oil. Our country has a huge amount of oil.” Referring to the use of the strategic reserve, Trump said: “Well, I created it. Biden used it so he could get some extra votes.”
Besant had also said in his post
The Treasury Secretary added, “India is an essential partner of the United States, and we fully expect New Delhi to increase its purchases of American oil.”
Later, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright explained the reasons behind “allowing” India to buy Russian oil, saying that the measure aims to relieve pressure and flow of supplies in the crude oil market due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
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“We have implemented short-term measures to help keep oil prices low,” Wright said in a post on X. “We are allowing our friends in India to take oil that is already on board, refine it, and move those barrels to market quickly. It is a practical way to get supplies flowing and relieve pressure.”
He also told ABC News that the waiver does not mean a change in policy toward Russia. Rather, it was just a short-term measure. He said in the interview: “We contacted our friends in India and told them: Buy this oil and bring it to your refineries.”
“India never needed permission.”
Soon after the waiver was announced, a senior government official reportedly said that India has never needed permission from any country to buy Russian oil, adding that Washington’s temporary move only removes friction and does not determine the country’s policy.
PTI news agency quoted the official as saying that Russian oil continued to flow to India even after the United States objected and imposed sanctions. The official referred to the amendment made by the then Congressional government in 2013 regarding oil imports under US sanctions.
The official added that the center is continuously monitoring the situation and will work, as usual, for the benefit of every citizen.
“Not a single petrol pump has run dry in 12 years. What some voices are calling a crisis is actually a sign of preparedness. India’s energy department has given us the insulation we need,” the official said.
