India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Thursday, September 17, that it has taken note of the US Congress passing the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, reasserting that securing energy supplies for its 1.4 billion people remains a firm priority.
What India Said
"As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people," the MEA said in a statement. "It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics." The ministry added that the issue has been discussed at senior levels between India and the US in recent months, with New Delhi highlighting to American officials the potential impact of the legislation on bilateral ties and international energy markets. The MEA also said it would work with Indian trade and industry bodies to address any implications arising from the bill.
What the Bill Does
The US House of Representatives passed the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026" on Wednesday, September 16, by a vote of 262-159, following the Senate's 86-11 approval the previous month. The bill now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature. The legislation authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian petroleum or natural gas — a group that includes both India and China — while also expanding sanctions against Russian officials, financial institutions, and vessels tied to Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" used to evade existing oil export restrictions. The bill separately extends the Iran Sanctions Act for another five years.
An Important Nuance
Notably, the legislation does not automatically impose these tariffs — it creates a legal mechanism allowing the executive branch to act if specified conditions are met, meaning the practical impact on India will ultimately depend on how the Trump administration chooses to exercise this newly granted authority rather than an immediate, automatic consequence of the bill's passage.
Domestic US Divisions Over the Bill
The legislation exposed real divisions within Congress over the additional tariff authority it hands the president. Democratic Congressman Richard Neal said during debate: "What we're not for is giving more tariff authority to this president." Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal was more direct in his message to the countries targeted: "China and India, you better buy your oil and gas somewhere else." Supporters of the bill, by contrast, argued that stronger economic pressure on countries sustaining Russian energy revenue could push Moscow toward negotiations over its war in Ukraine.
Why India Is a Central Target
India has become one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude oil since the West imposed sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine, making it a natural focal point for legislation aimed at cutting off revenue streams that sustain Russia's war effort. That dependence puts India in a genuinely difficult position: balancing its stated commitment to affordable, diversified energy sourcing against the risk of significant new US tariffs if the Trump administration chooses to exercise the authority this bill grants.
A Consistent Indian Position Over Time
India's response Thursday echoes language its officials have used consistently for months. Back in February 2026, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion Indians was the "supreme priority of the government," emphasizing that diversifying sourcing in keeping with market conditions was central to that strategy. More recently, following separate US sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil — a move that triggered a nearly 3% spike in global oil prices — Jaiswal reiterated: "We are guided by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security requirements of 1.4 billion people," while noting India would "make its own assessment" of the sanctions' implications.
What's Next
With the bill now awaiting Trump's signature, the coming weeks will reveal how aggressively the administration intends to use its new tariff authority against India, China, and other major Russian energy buyers — and how India adjusts its sourcing strategy, if at all, in response. For continuing coverage, see the full report from The Statesman.