‘US begging India’: Iran mocks Trump administration over Russian oil stance

In a post on X, Araghchi also criticised Europe for supporting the US-Israel strikes on Iran, which have disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil supplies.

“The U.S. spent months bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia. After two weeks of war with Iran, the White House is now begging the world—including India—to buy Russian crude.

“Europe thought backing an illegal war on Iran would win U.S. support against Russia. Pathetic,” the minister wrote on X.

 Araghchi’s remarks came a day after he held a phone conversation with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The call marked the fourth conversation between the two leaders since tensions escalated in the Middle East following US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Earlier this week, Iran allowed oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in what is seen as a diplomatic win for India, which has consistently called for de-escalation in the region.

Two crude oil tankers carrying nearly three million barrels of West Asian crude have already reached India after successfully navigating the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz, offering a rare sign of movement in a maritime corridor that has witnessed severe disruption since the latest escalation.

Shipping data and industry sources confirmed that the vessels arrived in India after passing through the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. Their arrival has fuelled hopes within India’s energy sector that additional shipments of oil and liquefied petroleum gas currently stranded in the Gulf region may soon reach Indian ports.

India imports nearly 60 percent of its LPG requirements, and about 90 percent of those supplies usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

With a large portion of LPG shipments temporarily stalled due to the conflict, authorities have prioritised household consumption by diverting supplies away from industrial and commercial users.

Industry observers say that if additional oil and LPG cargoes currently waiting in the Persian Gulf manage to reach Indian ports in the coming days, it could significantly ease supply concerns and stabilise energy logistics across the country.