Washington, March 11 – The White House said that President Donald Trump personally approved a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil as part of a broader effort to stabilize global energy markets amid disruptions caused by the ongoing US military campaign against Iran.
The decision was made after consultations between the President, the Treasury Department, and members of the national security team, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
"The President and the Secretary of the Treasury, along with the entire national security team, came to this decision because our allies in India have been responsible actors and have previously stopped purchasing sanctioned Russian oil," Leavitt told reporters in response to a question.
She said the temporary measure was intended to address disruptions in global oil supply triggered by the crisis surrounding Iran.
"So, as we work to address this temporary gap in oil supply around the world due to the situation with Iran, we have temporarily allowed them to accept Russian oil," she said.
Leavitt noted that the shipments involved had already been dispatched before the waiver was granted.
"This Russian oil was already at sea; it was already out on the water," she said.
According to the White House, the administration does not expect the arrangement to significantly benefit Moscow financially.
"Therefore, this short-term measure, we do not believe it will provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government at this time," Leavitt said.
The remarks came as the White House provided updates on Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure and naval capabilities.
Leavitt said the operation had achieved rapid progress since it began ten days ago. "More than 5,000 enemy targets have already been struck," she said.
She added that Iran's ability to retaliate had sharply declined.
"Iran's ballistic missile attacks are down by more than 90 percent, and their drone attacks are down by approximately 35 percent since the start of Operation Epic Fury," Leavitt said.
US forces have also targeted Iran’s naval assets.
"We have destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels, including a major drone carrier ship," she said, adding that the Iranian navy has been assessed as "combat ineffective."
The administration said the operation’s goals remain unchanged.
"The stated objectives for Operation Epic Fury remain the same: to destroy the terrorist regime's ballistic missiles, to bring their Iranian missile industry to ground, to ensure that their terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region, and to ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon," Leavitt said.
The White House also stressed that the United States would ensure the continued flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
Leavitt said President Trump had reiterated his commitment to protecting energy supply routes.
"President Trump reiterated his commitment to ensuring that oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz so that the United States and all of our allies can meet their energy needs," she said.
She added that the administration had already taken steps to stabilize energy markets.
"Thus far, the Trump administration has offered political risk insurance to tankers operating in the Gulf," she said.
Officials also said the US Navy could escort tankers if necessary to keep the vital waterway open.