US defends Russian oil sanctions waiver for India

New Delhi has said it does not need permission from Washington to buy crude, as it continues imports from Russia

Top US officials have defended the rationale behind the temporary waiver of sanctions on purchases of Russian oil for India, amid a surge in oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict.

The US has urged New Delhi to buy Russian oil that is already floating at sea and redirect it to Indian refineries to “tamp down” fears of supply shortages amid the raging Iran war...