US Allows India to Buy Russian Oil — Trump Aide Says “Indians Have Been Good Actors”

By Andrew Rose | America News World | March 7, 2026 | World News**

🔴 Breaking: A Big Energy Deal Between the US and India

The United States government has made a major and surprising move. It is now allowing India to buy Russian oil that is already sitting on ships floating in the ocean. This decision comes at a critical time — the world is facing a serious oil shortage because of the ongoing **war between the US, Israel, and Iran** in the Middle East.

—

## 🔵 What Did the US Decide?

**US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent** made the announcement on Friday during an interview on Fox Business. He said the Treasury Department has agreed to let India purchase Russian oil that was already loaded on ships before March 5, 2026.

Bessent praised India warmly, saying: *”The Indians had 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 the Russian oil.”*

He also said there are **hundreds of millions of barrels** of sanctioned Russian oil sitting on ships at sea. By allowing India to buy this oil, the US Treasury can quickly create new supply for the world market.

—

## 🟠 Why Is This Happening Right Now?

The Iran war has badly disrupted oil shipping through the **Strait of Hormuz** — one of the most important oil passages in the world. Almost 20% of the world’s oil travels through this narrow route. With the war ongoing, ships are avoiding the area, causing prices to rise sharply.

**Energy Secretary Chris Wright** confirmed the move on social media, saying the US is *”allowing our friends in India”* to take Russian oil already on ships near Southern Asia, refine it, and push it into the global market fast. He called it *”a practical way to get supply flowing and ease pressure.”*

—

## 🟢 India’s Big Reward for Being a Good Partner

This is a turning point in **India-US relations**. Just months ago, the US had punished India with **25% punitive tariffs** for buying Russian oil, saying those purchases were helping fund Russia’s war against Ukraine.

But India listened. When Washington asked New Delhi to stop, India obeyed. That trust is now being rewarded. Last month, the two countries also announced a framework for an **Interim Trade Agreement**, and Trump removed those 25% tariffs after India promised to buy American energy instead of Russian.

—

## 🛢️ The Story of Floating Russian Oil

Here is the fascinating detail behind this story. A massive amount of Russian oil — hundreds of millions of barrels — has been sitting on ships in Southern Asian waters for months. Why? Because **China stopped buying** from Russia after a dispute over payments.

Wright explained it simply: China does not treat its suppliers well, so enormous amounts of Russian oil have just been floating at sea with nowhere to go. The US saw an opportunity — ask India to buy that oil, send it to Indian refineries, and release pressure on the world’s oil supply all at once.

## 🔒 What the Official Waiver Says

The US Treasury issued an official 30-day waiver covering all Russian oil loaded on ships **on or before March 5, 2026**. The oil must be delivered to an **Indian port** and purchased by an **Indian company**. The waiver expires on **April 4, 2026**.

One important restriction: the waiver does **not** allow any dealings with Iran or Iranian goods. All sanctions on Iran remain fully in place.

—

## 🔵 Is US Policy Toward Russia Changing?

American officials were very clear — **this is not a permanent change**. Bessent called it a *”deliberately short-term measure”* that gives Russia no major financial benefit, since it only covers oil already stranded at sea. Wright echoed this: *”This is no change in policy towards Russia. This is a very brief change just to keep oil prices down.”*

—

## 🌍 What This Means for You

This story shows the **enormous pressure** the Iran war is putting on the entire world. Even the United States — the country that imposed the harshest sanctions on Russia — has been forced to make temporary exceptions just to keep fuel prices from exploding.

For India, it is a **double win**: access to cheaper Russian oil now, plus a stronger alliance with America for the future. For ordinary people around the world, more oil reaching the market means **lower fuel prices** in the weeks ahead.