United States authorizes one-month exemption for Russian oil shipments to India

On March 6, 2026, the United States Department of the Treasury announced a one-month authorization for oil shipments from Russia to India despite existing sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the decision aims to maintain global market supply amidst disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The waiver specifically applies only to oil that was already stranded at sea and is intended to prevent regional fuel shortages. The U.S. government emphasized that this measure will not provide significant financial benefit to Moscow. Furthermore, officials clarified that this exemption does not apply to any oil originating from Iran. The authorization is strictly temporary and designed to address immediate logistical challenges in the Indian energy market.