Jaishankar Raises India's Concerns With Rubio Over New Russia-Iran Sanctions Law
EAM S Jaishankar told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that India has concerns about the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which allows tariffs of up to 100% on buyers of Russian energy.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India's concerns to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over a newly enacted American law that could lead to steep tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, during a meeting in New York on Wednesday.
The two leaders discussed the sanctions that Washington could impose on states maintaining economic ties with Russia and Iran, the US State Department said in a statement after the talks.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said he had "reiterated India's interests and concerns" regarding the legislation, known as the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SIRA).
President Donald Trump signed the measure last week. Named the "Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" after the former South Carolina Republican senator, it was cleared by Congress as part of efforts to ratchet up economic pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, which began in early 2022.
Under the law, Trump is required to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent within 30 days on all goods entering the United States from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas. The same applies to any country that knowingly makes new purchases of Russian oil or gas 30 days after the law's enactment, or that ranks among the top five nations helping Russia evade sanctions.
India is one of the largest buyers of Russian crude. Its purchases rose sharply after the Ukraine invasion, as it took advantage of discounted supplies. Those stepped-up imports were cited by Washington as one reason for tariffs of as much as 50 per cent on Indian goods imposed in August 2025 — among the highest levied on any country.
In February, Trump rolled back those duties, pointing to what he described as India's commitment to halt Russian oil purchases. New Delhi, however, reduced its intake only briefly in early 2026, and volumes have since climbed again, particularly after the supply disruption that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran.
India has argued that its large population and expanding economy require affordable energy. Indian analysts maintain that the country's Russian oil purchases are not funding the war in Ukraine but are instead helping stabilise global supplies and keep domestic prices in check.
New Delhi has previously told Washington that fresh measures penalising the purchase of Russian oil could strain bilateral ties.