US President Donald Trump has said Washington will keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut as leverage against Iran, signalling that the vital oil route will reopen only when a deal is reached.
Washington moves to end temporary oil transaction relief and targets Iran-linked networks, signalling a sharper economic push as tensions in West Asia continue to impact global energy flows.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister defended Tehran’s role in Gulf security and warned of retaliation against attacks, while stressing that diplomacy remains the only viable path to resolve the conflict.
Surjewala highlighted public statements by US officials, including Marco Rubio, who said India had committed to stop buying Russian oil as part of broader discussions tied to the trade framework. Rubio’s remarks came at the Munich Security Conference, where he said Washington had “gotten their commitment to stop buying additional Russian oil” following talks with Indian officials.
Following the withdrawal of the US waiver, India has stopped contracting oil shipments from Iran.
The US on Monday imposed "the toughest ever" sanctions on a defiant Iran aimed at altering the Iranian regime's 'behaviour'.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the measures on Saturday, saying Trump had 'disgraced' US prestige and would be the ultimate loser in the long-running quarrel between the countries.
The Trump administration has granted exemptions to eight countries to continue importing Iranian oil, without naming them, which reportedly includes India.
The US had earlier told India and other countries to cut oil imports from the Gulf nation to 'zero' by November 4 or face sanctions.
Trump's decision comes at a time when there have been differences between the two countries over India's defence deal with Russia and purchase of oil from Iran.
