Trump tariffs ‘unfair’: India will buy energy from commercially viable sources, says MoS amid Russia-Iran sanctions law

Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh criticised new US tariffs on countries like India, stating they are unfair. He emphasised India's commitment to independent energy decisions and the welfare of its 140 crore citizens under its own foreign policy, unaffected by external pressures.

After Donald Trump signed the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” into law, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Saturday said India considers the tariffs being imposed “unfair” and asserted that New Delhi is making its decisions independently, without pressure from any other country.

Singh asserted that energy security remains a key priority for India and that the country will source energy from locations offering commercially viable and economical options for its people.

The legislation, signed by Trump on September 18, gives the US president powers to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries such as India and China that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas.

Quick answers to key questions

•5

QUESTIONS

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 is a US law that authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries, including India and China, that purchase Russian oil and gas, aiming to penalize Moscow for its ongoing war in Ukraine.

India considers the US tariffs unfair because they impose pressure on its energy sourcing decisions. The Indian government asserts that it prioritizes energy security and will seek commercially viable sources independently of foreign influence.

The US tariffs could significantly impact India's energy imports by increasing costs and disrupting supply, particularly since Russian oil accounts for a large portion of India's crude imports amid reduced alternatives due to issues in other regions.

India is not obligated to comply with US sanctions and has indicated it will continue sourcing Russian oil as necessary for its energy security, depending on market dynamics and the need to maintain stable supplies for its population.

India is diversifying its energy sources and has committed to sourcing energy from economically viable locations, while also planning to continue importing Russian crude despite potential US tariffs that may increase costs.

"We always say that these tariffs that are being imposed are very unfair. And we are not under the pressure of any country. Energy is a very primary concern of ours. And wherever we find commercially viable, economical energy sources for our country and our people, we will take energy from there," Singh told ANI.

He said the government's foremost concern is the welfare of India's 140 crore people and that it will take all necessary measures to safeguard their interests while maintaining the country's strength and stability.

"The priority of the country of India and our government is our people, our people of 140 crores. We will take every step which is necessary for the convenience of our people. We will take every strong step for the strength and stability of our country, our population of 140 crores. We have our own independent foreign policy. We will not follow any country based on what our country is doing. We will do whatever is good for our country," Singh said.

New sanctions target Russia, Iran

The new US law expands measures against Russian officials, financial institutions, defence-linked networks and the country's so-called "shadow fleet" of ships accused of transporting energy while bypassing Western restrictions. It also extends the Iran Sanctions Act for another five years.

The legislation cleared the US Senate in August with an 86-11 vote before passing the House of Representatives 262-159 earlier this week. It was named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had been a prominent supporter of the measure.

“On Friday, September 18, 2026, the President signed into law:H.R. 5334, the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026,” which authorizes and expands statutory sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions on Russia and extends existing sanctions on Iran,” the White House mentioned.

Tariff powers target Russian energy buyers

One of the key provisions gives the US President authority to impose targeted tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, along with countries accused of helping Moscow evade oil-related sanctions.

The provision could have implications for India and China, both major purchasers of Russian crude. It establishes a legal mechanism for imposing tariffs on imports from countries that continue certain purchases of Russian energy.

The President can also waive the measures under specified circumstances, including by certifying to Congress that granting a waiver is in the national interest.

About the Author

Garvit Bhirani is a journalist based in Gurugram. He is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint, where he covers national and international news stories, focusing on accuracy and compelling storytelling for readers. <br><br> With a total of six years of experience in journalism, he has previously worked with Vaco Binary Semantics for Google, taking on the role of news curation lead, and reported from the field on health, education, and agriculture stories for 101reporters and News9. He has also served as a content editor for entertainment and news media organisations. <br><br> Garvit holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and mass communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Gurugram University, respectively. During college days, he joined India’s only non-profit student journalism network, where he anchored daily news updates and produced his own weekly show called ‘Data Fix’. <br><br> He was selected for the YES Foundation Media for Social Change Fellowship in Delhi, the Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar residential workshop, and the VOICE Fellowship in Pune. <br><br> He holds certificates in COVID-19-verification reporting, data journalism, food & agriculture, tech policy, media literacy and countering misinformation, and tackling election disinformation courses from Thomson Foundation, IndiaSpend, The Dialogue, US Mission in India, and AFP. <br><br> He can be reached on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garvit-bhirani">LinkedIn</a> or on <a href="https://x.com/GarvitBhirani">@garvitbhirani</a> on X

^{Get Latest real-time updates}

Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news.

HomeNewsIndiaTrump tariffs ‘unfair’: India will buy energy from commercially viable sources, says MoS amid Russia-Iran sanctions law