Iran hits out at US for 'begging world' to buy Russian oil after 2 weeks of war: 'Spent months bullying India ...'

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

Iran on Saturday accused the United States of double standards over Russian crude and said that it is now begging several countries to buy the same oil it had earlier tried to block.

"The US spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia. After two weeks of war with Iran, White House is now begging the world —incl India — to buy Russian crude," he posted on X.

Araghchi also hit out at European nations for backing an 'illegal war' against Iran. "Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia. Pathetic," he said.

The U.S. spent months on bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia. After two weeks of war with Iran, White House is now begging the world—incl India—to buy Russian crude.

Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win U.S. support against Russia. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/fbkrXpXa9P — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 13, 2026

The Iranian foreign minister posted the remarks along with a Financial Times report highlighting how rising oil prices are providing Russia with a significant boost in revenue.

Araghchi's remarks come days after the Trump administration announced a 30-day waiver permitting countries to buy Russian oil cargoes despite existing sanctions.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington has allowed Indian refiners to buy Russian oil that was stranded at sea and could consider allowing more barrels into the market if supply pressures continue.

"The Indians had been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did," Bessent said, noting that New Delhi complied with earlier US requests before receiving the temporary waiver.

The waiver was introduced after benchmark crude prices surged past $100 per barrel due to supply disruptions triggered by the war and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil shipping routes.

Meanwhile, Iran's Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali has indicated that India will be granted safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. He has cited the longstanding friendship and shared interests between the two countries.

Answering a question on whether Iran would allow Indian-bound ships safe transit through the Strait, which is one of the critical routes for global energy trade, Fathali said, "Yes. Because India and I are friends. You can see the future, and I think that after two or three hours. Because we believe that. We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests; we have a common fate."