New Delhi, India, September 29 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed India’s concerns over the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” and its potential implications for bilateral ties and the international energy market during his meeting with a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, the Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the meeting between Misri and the U.S. delegation took place Sunday and covered various bilateral issues, including the recently enacted Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA).
“The Foreign Secretary had a meeting with the U.S. congressional delegation. This happened on Sunday. The congressional delegation is led by the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson, Congressman Brian Mast. At the meeting, various issues of a bilateral nature were discussed. At the meeting, the Foreign Secretary conveyed our concerns in regard to SRIA legislation as to the kind of implications it would have for bilateral relationships as well as for the international energy market,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
The remarks came after the Foreign Secretary met the U.S. congressional delegation Sunday, during which Misri held wide-ranging discussions with the delegation, including on the SRIA and the future trajectory of India-U.S. bilateral ties.
“Discussions covered the entire gamut of India-U.S. relations, including the recently enacted SRIA legislation and the future trajectory of the relationship. They also exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern, energy security, counterterrorism and freedom of navigation,” the MEA spokesperson stated in a post on X following the meeting.
The discussion on SRIA comes as India continues to assess the implications of U.S. legislation targeting Russia’s energy trade and countries purchasing Russian oil and gas.
The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, or SRIA, provides a statutory framework for expanded sanctions, import duties and trade restrictions concerning Russia, while also extending economic measures relating to Iran. The legislation focuses on areas including Russia’s petroleum and military sectors, government officials, financial institutions and vessels associated with efforts to circumvent restrictions on Russian crude exports.
For India, the legislation has particular relevance because it creates a potential mechanism under which Washington could impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian energy, subject to the statutory conditions and any subsequent invocation by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The legislation itself, however, does not automatically impose a 100 percent tariff on Indian goods. Rather, it provides the executive branch with authority to impose such tariffs under specified conditions. (ANI)
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