Jaishankar raises India's concerns over Russia sanctions law with Rubio at UNGA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he reiterated India's "interests and concerns" regarding the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA). Jaishankar said he had reiterated India's concerns over the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act in talks with Rubio. The two ministers also discussed the situations in the Gulf and Ukraine.

The exchange comes at a sensitive moment for India-US ties, with New Delhi among the countries directly exposed to the sweeping new US legislation targeting buyers of Russian energy.

Why SRIA matters for India

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was signed into law by President Donald Trump on September 18, 2026, after clearing the House and Senate over the preceding months. The law allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from each of the top five importers of Russian oil and natural gas. The relevant tariff provisions can be applied after a 30-day period following enactment, and a country may face tariffs if it was among the five largest importers, by volume, of Russian crude oil or natural gas during the preceding 12 months and continues such purchases after that window.

India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian crude oil by most estimates, putting it squarely among the countries the legislation is designed to pressure. The law creates the possibility of penalising Indian exports because of India's energy transactions with Russia, a condition especially relevant to India and China as the two largest importers of Russian crude oil.

What Jaishankar said

Posting on X after the meeting, Jaishankar wrote: "Good to meet @SecRubio of the US #UNHighLevelWeek. Reiterated India's interests and concerns with regard to SRIA. Also discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations."

The minister did not detail what specific concerns were raised or whether any assurances were sought or offered.

The meeting follows months of strain in India-US trade ties, after Washington raised tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian crude. The Jaishankar-Rubio engagement comes amid escalating trade frictions, with Washington having imposed a 50% duty on key Indian products citing India's energy ties with Moscow. India has previously said it has been in touch with US lawmakers, including the bill's original sponsor, on the issue.