The United States has granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to increase imports of Russian oil, reversing months of pressure on New Delhi. The license, issued late Thursday, permits transactions for Russian crude and petroleum products loaded before March 5, provided they are delivered to India and purchased by Indian firms. The waiver expires on April 4 at 12:01 a.m. Washington time. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the 30-day measure aims to keep oil flowing into global markets without providing significant financial benefit to Russia.

The decision comes as escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupts energy flows, threatening supplies to major importers. The move offers immediate relief to India, one of the economies most affected by the turmoil, by allowing refiners to secure stranded Russian cargoes and stabilize operations. It also represents a policy shift by the Trump administration, which had previously imposed tariffs and sanctions to curb India’s Russian oil purchases.

Analysts noted that while the waiver is short-term, it could reshape Russian crude pricing and trade flows in the coming weeks as competition for supply intensifies.