Iran says US now ‘begging’ world, including India, to buy Russian oil
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Tehran: Iran on Saturday accused the United States of adopting double standards on Russian oil, claiming that Washington was now “begging” countries to buy the same crude it had previously tried to block through pressure and sanctions.
In a post on X, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised the United States, alleging that it had spent months pressuring India to halt imports of Russian oil but had shifted its position after tensions with Iran disrupted global energy markets.
“The US spent months bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia,” Araghchi wrote. “After two weeks of war with Iran, the White House is now begging the world — including India — to buy Russian crude.”
He also criticised European governments, accusing them of supporting what he described as an “illegal war” against Iran in the expectation that it would secure stronger US backing in their confrontation with Russia.
“Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia. Pathetic,” he wrote in the same post.
Araghchi shared his remarks alongside a headline from the Financial Times reporting that the surge in global oil prices was providing Russia with a major boost in revenue.
His comments came after the administration of US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a 30-day waiver allowing countries to purchase certain Russian oil cargoes currently stranded at sea.
The measure was introduced to ease volatility in global energy markets after crude prices surged beyond 100 dollars per barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The waiver followed a sharp rise in benchmark oil prices after supply disruptions linked to the war and Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil shipments passes.
According to the US Department of the Treasury, the temporary licence permits the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that had already been loaded onto vessels as of March 12. The authorisation will remain valid until midnight Washington time on April 11.
The latest decision follows a similar 30-day waiver issued on March 5 that allowed India to purchase Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea, giving importers limited flexibility to secure supplies during the ongoing crisis.
Amid the disruption, Iran has granted safe passage to Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz despite wider restrictions on global shipping. An LPG tanker bound for India crossed the strait on Friday.
The development comes after a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between India and Iran, including phone conversations between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Araghchi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday to review the rapidly evolving situation in the West Asia region.
With IANS inputs