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The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement Thursday after the US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The ministry said it had taken note of the bill’s approval and continued to monitor further developments in Washington. According to the statement, Indian officials had already discussed the legislation’s potential effects at senior levels with US counterparts in recent months.
The MEA emphasised that India had clearly conveyed the measure’s implications for bilateral relations as well as the broader international energy market. The statement added that New Delhi had expressed its determination to take all necessary steps to protect trade and economic interests in response to the legislation. The ministry indicated it would collaborate closely with Indian trade and industry bodies to address any resulting implications, according to the official release.
“As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people,” the MEA said in the statement. “It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics.” The position aligns with repeated earlier affirmations by the ministry that national priorities drive energy procurement decisions, including purchases from multiple suppliers such as the United States.
The US House passed the bill by a 262-159 vote on September 16, sending it to President Donald Trump for expected signature, congressional records show. The legislation, which cleared the Senate last month by an 86-11 margin, targets Russia’s energy sector to restrict financing for its war in Ukraine. Sponsors described the measure as a means to impose primary and secondary sanctions on Moscow and associated entities.
Provisions in the act grant the president authority to apply tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with limited exceptions for nations that import less than 15 percent of their natural gas from Russia and demonstrate significant reductions in those purchases. The bill also extends sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors for five years, according to the legislative text. India ranks among the largest buyers of Russian crude, a position it has maintained since Western sanctions redirected discounted barrels to Asian markets following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The MEA statement noted ongoing engagement with relevant US stakeholders on the issue. Indian refiners have continued sourcing Russian oil under evolving market conditions while expanding imports from other producers to maintain supply stability. Public data from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas shows Russia’s share of India’s crude imports rose substantially after 2022, contributing to lower domestic fuel costs amid global price volatility.
