# US House passes Russia sanctions bill targeting India

2026-09-17T08:32:41+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 23 independent outlets

The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 262-159 on Wednesday, giving President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries, including India and China, for purchasing Russian oil and gas. The bill, already cleared by the Senate 86-11 last month, now heads to Trump for his signature. It targets Russia's energy sector, leadership, and "shadow fleet" of tankers, and extends sanctions on Iran. India's Ministry of External Affairs said it is monitoring the developments and remains committed to ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion people through diversified sourcing. It said the issue was discussed at high levels with US interlocutors, and India is determined to take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal warned India and China to "clean up your act" and buy oil elsewhere. The bill does not automatically impose tariffs, Trump retains discretion over whether to use the authority.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Pro-government outlets framed the bill as a US move to pressure Russia over Ukraine, emphasising India’s commitment to energy security and its diplomatic exchanges with Washington. Government-critical sources, by contrast, led with opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s charge that the Modi government keeps “surrendering” to US pressure, while neutral reporting stressed the bill’s mechanics and Trump’s discretion over tariffs. Both sides agree the legislation creates legal grounds for punitive tariffs, but they diverge sharply on whether New Delhi’s response amounts to strategic autonomy or repeated capitulation. The government’s next concrete step, working with trade bodies and monitoring developments, offers no timeline for a tariff decision, which now depends on Trump’s signature and subsequent action.

## Coverage

- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/russia-sanctions-bill-advances-in-us-house-set-for-final-vote/article71470950.ece>
  Reports passage and business lobby opposition
- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/indias-tariff-risk-remains-as-us-house-prepares-to-vote-on-russia-sanctions-bill/article71471436.ece>
  Reports passage and business lobby opposition
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/india-russia-oil-sanctions-us-house-bill-pakistan-airspace-ban-iran-diplomacy-ptag-2995976-2026-09-16>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- m.thewire.in (left leaning) <https://m.thewire.in/article/world/russia-sanctions-bill-us-lawmakers-seek-100-tariff-on-india>
  Op-ed criticising pressure on India to sign unequal deal
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/100-tariff-on-india-russia-sanctions-bill-clears-key-hurdle-final-house-vote-next/articleshow/134292145.cms>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and MEA statement
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/russia-sanctions-bill-us-house-debates-tariffs-on-india-china-over-moscow-oil-trade-ptag-2996257-2026-09-16>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/shows/us-house-passes-sanctions-bill-threatening-100-percent-tariffs-on-india-video-156170747>
  Reports MEA statement and tariff threat detail
- english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report) <https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/us-house-debate-russia-sanctions-act-tariffs-india-china-ffvizaz9>
  Leads with debate, quotes McCaul and Meeks
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/news/report/us-house-wraps-up-debate-on-bill-targeting-india-china-over-russian-oil/20260917.htm>
  Reports passage, quotes Blumenthal and Shaheen
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/after-senate-us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-100-tariff-threat-looms-for-india/articleshow/134296683.cms>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and MEA statement
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/us-president-donald-trump-tariffs-india-us-house-passes-russia-oil-sanctions-bill-iran-war-act-article-156171461>
  Reports MEA statement and tariff threat detail
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/s-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-clears-way-for-tariffs-on-india-china-2996401-2026-09-17>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-congress-passes-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill-12056969>
  Reports Blumenthal warning, brief on India response
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-targeting-banks-tankers-and-oil-buyers-ptag-2996402-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/s-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-clears-way-for-tariffs-on-india-china-2996401-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-india-tariffs/article71474350.ece>
  Reports MEA monitoring developments
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-giving-trump-more-power-to-impose-sweeping-tariffs-101789597283006.html>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and Democratic opposition
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/us-house-passes-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill-sending-it-to-trump-what-it-means-for-tariffs-on-india-11789603677327.html>
  Charts showing shift in Indiau2019s Russian oil imports
- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/world/us/us-house-passes-sanctions-tariff-bill-to-raise-economic-pressure-on-russia-4148938>
  Brief, incomplete report
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/us-russia-oil-sanctions-bill-india-impact-explained-house-passes-lindsey-o-graham-sanctioning-russia-and-iran-act-article-156171558>
  Reports MEA statement and tariff threat detail
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/morning-digest-september-17-2026/article71474001.ece>
  Reports MEA monitoring developments
- thefederal.com (neutral report) <https://thefederal.com/category/news/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-india-faces-100-per-cent-tariff-256806>
  Reports passage, quotes senators targeting India
- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/us-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-targeting-countries-buying-russian-oil/article71475090.ece>
  Reports passage and business lobby opposition
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/world/video/russia-strikes-kyiv-injuring-10-as-us-house-introduces-100-tariff-bill-over-russian-trade-ytvd-2996431-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- businesstoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.businesstoday.in/world/story/russian-crude-purchase-us-house-passes-bill-clearing-path-for-100-tariffs-on-india-china-556007-2026-09-17?utm_source=rssfeed>
  Reports passage and Zelenskyy lobby
- news.abplive.com (neutral report) <https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-tariff-india-house-passes-russia-sanctions-bill-india-faces-fresh-100-tariff-risk-over-russian-oil-1867048>
  Reports MEA statement on protecting trade interests
- indiatvnews.com (neutral report) <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/us-congress-passes-bill-to-impose-sanctions-on-russia-will-india-will-face-100-tariffs-2026-09-17-1054454>
  Reports MEA statement on energy security priority
- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/world/us/more-tariffs-on-india-china-us-house-passes-sanctions-bill-targeting-russia-allies-4148938>
  Brief, incomplete report
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/pm-narendra-modi-76th-birthday-seva-sankalp-abhiyan-and-semicon-india-launch-ytvd-2996443-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/2-terrorists-killed-in-cordon-and-search-encounter-in-udhampur-ytvd-2996439-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/us-tariff-bill-threatens-russian-oil-imports-trade-ties-and-energy-security-ytvd-2996428-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/us-house-passes-100-tariff-bill-over-russian-trade-amid-india-us-trade-talks-ytvd-2996420-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/news/commentary/2026/sep/17/bill-seeking-tariffs-on-india-clears-us-house/5c216ff1a1bf0134f548110c3acdd7e7>
  Reports passage, quotes Blumenthal and Shaheen
- newindianexpress.com (neutral report) <https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Sep/17/us-house-approves-russia-sanctions-bill-threatening-100-tariffs-on-india-other-trading-partners>
  Reports passage, quotes senators and vote breakdown
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/100-trump-tariffs-loom-russia-sanctions-bill-passed-in-us-will-it-make-india-stop-buying-crude-from-moscow/articleshow/134300254.cms>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and MEA statement
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-pressure-mounts-modi-govt-keeps-surrendering-mallikarjun-kharge-on-russia-sanctions-bill/article71471826.ece>
  Reports MEA monitoring developments
- ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/russia-sanctions-reaches-trumps-desk-how-it-will-affect-indias-oil-trade-12057255#publisher=newsstand>
  Reports Blumenthal warning, brief on India response
- ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-congress-passes-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill-12056969#publisher=newsstand>
  Reports Blumenthal warning, brief on India response
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mea-as-russia-sanctions-bill-threatening-100-tariff-clears-us-house-oil-purchase-donald-trump-modi-trade-ukraine-china-101789619361353.html>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and Democratic opposition
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ht-morning-brief-september-17-russia-sanctions-bill-manoj-jarange-ends-fast-india-pakistan-warships-top-news-101789617827915.html>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and Democratic opposition
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/russian-oil-buyers-will-have-to-pay-us-senator-backs-bill-tariffs-on-india-100-china-jeanne-shaheen-donald-trump-101789609081621.html>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and Democratic opposition
- news.abplive.com (neutral report) <https://news.abplive.com/news/india/us-tariff-on-india-mea-reacts-to-us-russia-sanctions-bill-targeting-india-will-take-necessary-steps-1867068>
  Reports MEA statement on protecting trade interests
- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/world/us/100-tariffs-on-india-china-sanctions-bill-targeting-russia-allies-passed-by-us-house-awaits-trumps-assent-4148938>
  Brief, incomplete report
- m.thewire.in (left leaning) <https://m.thewire.in/article/trade/with-new-sanctions-act-us-may-try-to-push-india-into-an-unequal-trade-deal>
  Op-ed criticising pressure on India to sign unequal deal
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/committed-to-ensuring-energy-security-india-reacts-as-100-trump-tariff-looms/articleshow/134301911.cms>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and MEA statement
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/determined-to-protect-trade-economic-interests-india-on-us-congress-passing-russia-sanctions-bill-2996506-2026-09-17?utm_source=rss>
  Reports MEA statement and bill implications
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/will-protect-our-trade-energy-interests-india-reacts-after-us-passes-bill-to-impose-100-tariffs-article-156172531>
  Reports MEA statement and tariff threat detail
- nationalheraldindia.com (neutral report) <https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/us-congress-clears-trumps-100-pc-tariff-bill-targeting-india-china>
  Reports passage, quotes Meeks warning of tariff abuse
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/news/report/us-house-clears-russia-sanctions-bill-seeking-100-tariffs-on-india/20260917.htm>
  Reports passage, quotes Blumenthal and Shaheen
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-you-better-buy-oil-somewhere-else-us-senator-s-warning-after-russia-sanctions-bill-clears-house-101789619145208.html>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and Democratic opposition
- openthemagazine.com (neutral report) <https://openthemagazine.com/world/will-india-face-100-trump-tariffs-what-the-us-houses-russia-sanctions-bill-means-for-oil-trade-and-diplomacy>
  Explains bill does not automatically impose tariffs
- bbc.com (neutral report) <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3lyrn4p870yo>
  Analysis of Indiau2019s exposure and tariff impact
- moneycontrol.com (neutral report) <https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/india-prepared-to-take-all-necessary-measures-as-us-bill-raises-100-tariff-threat-over-russian-oil-article-14031765.html>
  Reports MEA statement and trade interest protection
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-house-of-representatives-to-take-up-russia-sanctions-bill-next-week/article71461175.ece>
  Reports MEA monitoring developments
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mea-monitoring-developments-of-russia-sanctions-bill-in-us-congress/article71475348.ece>
  Reports MEA monitoring developments
- indiatvnews.com (neutral report) <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/us-congress-passes-sanctions-bill-india-says-energy-security-of-1-4-billion-remains-top-priority-2026-09-17-1054476>
  Reports MEA statement on energy security priority
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/buy-oil-somewhere-else-us-senators-clean-up-your-act-warning-to-india-china-over-russia/articleshow/134303336.cms>
  Reports Blumenthal warning and MEA statement
- bbc.co.uk (neutral report) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3lyrn4p870yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss>
  Analysis of Indiau2019s oil import dependence and tariff risk
- aljazeera.com (government critical) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/17/india-warns-new-us-tariffs-over-russian-oil-could-impact-ties>
  Reports India warning on bilateral ties impact
- ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/clean-up-your-act-team-trump-warns-india-china-over-russian-oil-trade-12058483#publisher=newsstand>
  Reports Blumenthal warning, brief on India response
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/economy/india-says-committed-to-ensuring-energy-security-protecting-economic-interest-after-us-passes-russia-sanctions-law-11789623327110.html>
  Charts showing shift in Indiau2019s Russian oil imports
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/economy/russian-oil-india-russia-oil-trade-us-tariffs-donald-trump-russian-crude-india-oil-imports-west-asia-war-11789627064026.html>
  Charts showing shift in Indiau2019s Russian oil imports

Tags: Donald Trump, India-US relations, Iran sanctions, Lindsey Graham, Russia sanctions, Russian oil
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