Center Ridicules US Claim of “Temporary Waiver,” “India does not Need Anyone’s Permission to Buy Russian Oil”

Rohit Kumar

NEW DELHI, Mar 7: The Center on Saturday virtually ridiculed the US claim of having given 30 days reprieve to Indian to buy Russian oil and insisted that India did not require “permission” from any country to make crude oil purchases from any sources.

Confirming that it continued to import Russian oil, the center said India continue to buy crude oil from any source offering the most competitive prices, as tensions prevail along the Strait of Hormuz route because of the Iran-US-Israel war.

Citing a temporary waiver granted by the United States due to the war in the Middle East, the Center said, “India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil,” the Center said. “India is still importing Russian oil even in February 2026, and Russia is still India’s largest crude oil supplier. For three years of the Russia-Ukraine war, India kept buying Russian oil despite US and EU objections. Imports increased significantly after 2022 due to discounted prices and refinery demand.”

Stating that India’s energy supplies remained secure despite the disruptions, the government said, “Despite rising tensions on the Hormuz Route, India’s energy supply remains secure and stable. India has diversified its crude oil sources from 27 to 40 countries, ensuring multiple alternative supply routes. In the national interest, India purchases oil from wherever the most competitive and affordable rates are available,” the Center said in a statement.

According to the Centre, India holds more than 250 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products in reserves and across its supply chain. This provides a buffer equivalent to seven or eight weeks of consumption. India’s total refining capacity stands at 258 million metric tonnes per annum, which exceeds current domestic demand.

The US-Israel military actions against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf have disrupted global energy flows and shipping routes, pushing oil prices sharply higher. On Thursday, the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Russia so that oil from the country already loaded on vessels at sea could be sold to India. “Suggesting a short-term waiver ‘enables’ these purchases overlooks that the trade has continued consistently. India is a net exporter of refined products to the world – a position that reinforces, not undermines, its energy security,” the Center said.

Earlier, in February, Washington had removed a 25 percent tariff on Indian exports as part of an interim trade agreement. The US administration had claimed the move followed a “commitment” by India to stop buying Russian oil. No such commitment appears in the joint statement issued at the time, and the Indian government has neither confirmed nor denied the claim.

Global oil prices rose 8.5 per cent on Friday and had gained almost 30 per cent over the previous week. The surge followed comments by US President Donald Trump that only the “unconditional surrender” of Iran would bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East.

Military actions by the US and Israel against Iran, along with Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, have disrupted global energy flows and shipping routes, pushing oil prices sharply higher. On Thursday, the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Russia so that oil from the country already loaded on vessels at sea could be sold to India.

“Suggesting a short-term waiver ‘enables’ these purchases overlooks that the trade has continued consistently. India is a net exporter of refined products to the world, a position that reinforces, not undermines, its energy security,” the Center said.