US President Donald Trump suggested the United States could take steps to ease pressure on global oil markets amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, including temporarily allowing India to continue purchasing Russian crude. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump responded to questions about Washington’s decision to permit certain Russian oil sales to India following the announcement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “If there were some, I would do it just to take a little of the pressure off,” Trump said, referencing potential measures such as using the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). He emphasized that global oil supply remained strong despite the crisis, stating, “I think that the oil pressure—there’s a lot of oil. We’ve got a lot of oil. Our country has a tremendous amount and there’s a lot of oil out there. That’ll get healed very quickly.” The US granted a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil after shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf. Bessent explained that the waiver was intended to stabilize global supply during the crisis, noting, “We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil,” but added that the waiver was a short-term measure to prevent sharp rises in global oil prices. The waiver, which permits India to accept Russian oil for 30 days, reflects Washington’s effort to balance geopolitical tensions with economic stability. India’s energy situation remains stable, with government sources stating the country is reviewing its energy situation twice daily and remains in a “very comfortable position” regarding energy security.#iran #strait_of_hormuz #scott_bessent #us_president_donald_trump
