Overview
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met on Wednesday in New York to discuss possible US actions targeting states that maintain economic ties with Russia and Iran. The conversation came in the wake of a new law signed by President Donald Trump last week, the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," which was approved by the US Congress to increase economic pressure on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine that began in early 2022.
What officials said
The State Department said Rubio and Jaishankar "discussed sanctions that could be leveled against states that engage economically with Russia and Iran" in a statement issued after the meeting. On social media, Jaishankar wrote on X that he "reiterated India’s interests and concerns with regard to SRIA."
Key provisions of the new law
The law directs President Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% within 30 days on all goods imported into the United States from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas. It also covers any country that knowingly made new purchases of Russian oil or gas 30 days after the law was enacted, as well as countries identified among the top five assisting Russia to evade sanctions.
India's position and recent trade actions
India is one of the largest purchasers of Russian crude. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi significantly increased its purchases of discounted Russian oil. Those larger purchases were cited as a contributing factor when President Trump imposed tariffs of as much as 50% on Indian goods in August 2025, among the steepest duties applied to any country.
In February, Trump rescinded those duties, citing what he described as India’s commitment to halt purchases of Russian oil. New Delhi did reduce Russian crude imports only briefly in early 2026, but purchases subsequently rose again, particularly after a supply disruption that followed the US-Israeli war on Iran.
India's justification and analyst views
Indian officials have argued that a large population and a growing economy create a need for affordable energy supplies. Indian analysts quoted by officials have maintained that the country’s purchases of Russian oil were not financing the war in Ukraine, but instead helped stabilise global supplies and restrained domestic fuel prices.
Diplomatic implications
New Delhi has previously told Washington that the imposition of new US measures, including tariffs tied to the purchase of Russian oil, could affect bilateral relations. During the recent meeting, India reiterated those concerns as the two sides discussed the operational and diplomatic elements of implementing the new legislation.
Outlook
The talks between Rubio and Jaishankar underline the tension between US efforts to tighten economic pressure on Russia and India’s energy security considerations. The law’s tariff mechanisms and the criteria for identifying targeted countries are central to the ongoing diplomatic dialogue.