Trump Approves Waiver Allowing India to Purchase Russian Oil Amid Energy Market Disruptions

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump approved a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil as part of a broader effort to stabilize global energy markets amid disruptions linked to the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran, the White House said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision followed consultations between the president, the Treasury Department, and members of the national security team.

“The President and the Secretary of the Treasury and the whole national security team came to this decision because our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil,” Leavitt told reporters.

She said the waiver was intended to address short-term disruptions in global oil supply caused by tensions involving Iran.

“So as we work to appease this temporary gap of oil supply around the world because of the Iranians, we have temporarily permitted them to accept that Russian oil,” she said.

Leavitt noted that the shipments covered by the waiver had already been dispatched before the decision was made.

“This Russian oil was already at sea, it was already out on the water,” she said.

According to the White House, the administration does not expect the temporary arrangement to significantly benefit Russia financially.

“So this short-term measure, we don’t believe it will provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government at this time,” Leavitt said.

The comments came as the White House provided an update on Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military campaign targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure and naval capabilities.

Leavitt said the operation had made rapid progress since it began ten days ago.

“More than 5000 enemy targets have been struck so far,” she said.

She added that Iran’s ability to retaliate has been sharply reduced.

“Iran’s ballistic missile attacks are down more than 90 per cent, and their drone attacks are down by approximately 35 per cent since the start of Operation Epic Fury,” Leavitt said.

U.S. forces have also targeted Iranian naval assets.

“We have destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels, including a major drone carrier ship,” she said, adding that the Iranian navy has been assessed as “combat ineffective.”

The administration said the goals of the operation remain unchanged.

“The stated objectives for Operation Epic Fury remain the same: destroy the terrorist regime’s ballistic missiles, raise their Iranian missile industry to the ground, ensure their terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region, and ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt said.

The White House also emphasized the importance of maintaining the flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

Leavitt said Trump had reiterated his commitment to keeping the route open.

“President Trump reiterated his commitment toward keeping oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz so the United States and all of our allies can receive their energy needs,” she said.

She added that the administration has already taken steps to stabilize energy markets.

“Thus far, the Trump administration has offered political risk insurance to tankers operating in the Gulf,” she said.

Officials also said the U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers if necessary to help keep the vital waterway open. (Source: IANS)