Iran mocks Trump amid Middle East conflict: ‘White House is now begging the world—incl India—to buy Russian crude’
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi accused the US of pressuring India to stop Russian oil imports, claiming the White House is now asking countries, including India, to buy Russian crude.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday criticized the United States for its changing position on Russian oil, saying that Washington is now “begging” countries worldwide — including India — to buy Russian crude, despite previously pressuring them to halt such imports.
In a post on X, Araghchi said, “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--including India--to buy Russian crude.”
The Iranian foreign minister also criticised European countries for backing an "illegal war" against Iran, claiming they expected American support against Russia in return.
"Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia. Pathetic," he said.
See the post here:
Meanwhile, Iran has allowed two India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers to transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict in the Middle East region, Reuters reported, citing four sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
Reuters, citing two sources and shipping data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, reported that a crude oil tanker carrying Saudi Arabian oil is scheduled to reach India on Saturday after passing through the Strait of Hormuz around March 1.
Earlier, Mohammad Fathali, Iran’s Ambassador to India, stated that Iran would ensure safe passage for vessels heading to India through the Strait of Hormuz despite the ongoing tensions in West Asia, emphasizing the long-standing friendship and shared interests between the two nations.
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."
He emphasised the mutual responsibility between the two nations, adding, “Suffering of the people of India is our suffering and vice versa. And for this reason, the government of India help us, and we should help the government of India because we have a common fate and common interest.”
US strikes Persian Gulf island
The US strikes on Iran's Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf targeted military sites but left alone its oil infrastructure for now, Trump said in a social media post.
But he warned that if Iran or anyone else interferes with the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he will reconsider his decision not to "wipe out the Oil Infrastructure."
On Thursday, the Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned in a social media post that attacks on the islands on Iran's southern maritime frontier would cause Iran to "abandon all restraint," underscoring how central they are to the country's economy and security.
(With inputs from agencies)
About the Author
Mausam Jha is a journalist who focuses on world affairs and politics. She provides clear, informative reporting with a good understanding of both global events and their local impact. <br><br> Her clear, accessible reporting on political and international issues makes her a trusted source of news and analysis. <br><br> For the past three years, Mausam has worked with Mint, covering national politics, IR—including elections—and global affairs.<br> Before joining her current role, she gained experience working with The Statesman, ANI, and Financial Express, where she honed her skills in political and international news. <br><br> She has consistently tracked key electoral battles, including US elections, Japan elections, policy debates, and strategic affairs, explaining how global currents, from great power competition to regional conflicts <br><br> Beyond journalism, Mausam has a deep engagement with international relations, diplomacy, war studies, terrorism, political history, and political theory. She is particularly interested in the intersection of statecraft and society on how governance, ideology, and institutions shape lived realities, and how politics shape today's world order. <br><br> An avid reader of classical literature and political thought, she constantly explores the connections between historical ideas and contemporary policy challenges.