U.S. is begging world, India, to buy Russian oil: Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi

Iran's Foreign Minister claims the U.S. is now urging India to buy Russian oil after pressuring them to stop imports.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the U.S., despite “bullying India” to end Russian oil imports, is now begging India to buy Russian crude two weeks after the Israel-U.S. war on Iran began.

The ongoing West Asia crisis has made oil prices skyrocket, with tensions around the critical Strait of Hormuz.

“The U.S. spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia,” he posted on X. “After two weeks of war with Iran, White House is now begging the world—incl India—to buy Russian crude.” He referred to a Financial Times article “Oil windfall gives Russia $150 million a day”.

The U.S. spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia. After two weeks of war with Iran, White House is now begging the world—incl India—to buy Russian crude.Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win U.S. support against Russia.Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/fbkrXpXa9P

In response to the rising oil prices, the Trump administration on Friday (March 13, 2026) announced temporary authorisation to other countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. Last Friday (March 6, 2026), the U.S. Treasury Department issued a “temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil”.

“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 U.S. oil. But to ease the temporary gap of oil around the world, we have given them permission to accept the Russian oil. We may unsanction other Russian oil,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview to Fox Business last Saturday (March 7, 2026).