India has reaffirmed that it will continue importing Russian crude oil, stating that its energy purchases are guided by national interest and not dependent on approval from any foreign government.

The statement came after the United States issued a temporary sanctions waiver allowing oil shipments currently stranded at sea to be sold to Indian buyers. The waiver, announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, aims to ease disruptions in global energy markets following escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The crisis intensified after the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region unsettled oil markets and drove prices sharply higher.

Despite the waiver, India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) said New Delhi’s energy policy remains independent and long-standing.

“India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil,” the government said in a statement. “India is still importing Russian oil even in February 2026, and Russia remains India’s largest crude oil supplier.”

India significantly increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude after Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow following the Ukraine conflict. Those imports have since become a key component of India’s energy strategy, helping stabilize domestic fuel prices and ensure supply security.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration temporarily rolled back a 25 percent tariff on Indian exports as part of an interim trade understanding with New Delhi. The move followed claims from U.S. officials that India had committed to reducing purchases of Russian oil.

However, that commitment was not included in the official joint statement released after the trade discussions. The Indian government has neither confirmed nor denied such a pledge, maintaining that oil imports are determined solely by national economic priorities.

Officials also emphasized that the country remains well prepared to handle short-term disruptions in global energy supply. According to government data, India currently holds more than 250 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products in reserve.

Meanwhile, global oil markets have reacted sharply to the escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Crude prices surged 8.5 percent on Friday and rose nearly 30 percent over the week after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that only Iran’s “unconditional surrender” would end the ongoing conflict.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also indicated that Washington is considering broader adjustments to sanctions affecting Russian oil exports as policymakers weigh options to stabilize global energy markets.

India’s latest statement underscores its commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy in energy policy, even as geopolitical tensions reshape global oil supply chains.