India Seeks US Waiver Extension for Russian Oil Amid Persian Gulf Conflict

India has formally requested the United States to extend its waiver allowing the import of Russian oil, citing severe energy supply disruptions caused by an ongoing eleven-week war in the Persian Gulf. The current authorization, initially granted in March and recently extended until May 16, was designed to mitigate rising global oil prices by adding extra barrels to the market. Although Russian crude is not under blanket sanctions, Washington has previously pressured New Delhi to reduce discounted purchases to penalize Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. Indian officials warn that continued volatility poses significant risks, exacerbating a cooking gas shortage affecting 1.4 billion citizens. Consequently, Indian refiners have accelerated imports, with daily inflows reaching a record 2.3 million barrels in May so far. Predictive data suggests full-month flows will remain substantial at approximately 1.9 million barrels per day. This diplomatic move underscores India's prioritization of energy security amidst regional instability, despite geopolitical tensions. Neither the Indian ministries nor the US Treasury provided immediate comments on the ongoing negotiations, highlighting the sensitive nature of these strategic energy discussions during a period of intense international conflict.