“U.S. spent months bullying India to end Russian oil imports,” says Iran FM Araghchi
Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the United States over its changing stance on Russian oil, saying Washington is now urging countries including India to buy Russian crude after earlier pressuring them to stop such imports.
In a post on the social media platform X, Araghchi wrote, “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.”
Araghchi also shared a photo of a report published by the Financial Times which stated that Russia is earning around 150 million dollars a day in extra revenue due to the surge in oil prices.
His remarks came after the United States earlier this month issued a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil despite sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine.
Global oil markets have remained volatile since the tensions in the region began.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Russia is earning as much as 150 million dollars a day in extra budget revenues from oil sales, making it one of the biggest beneficiaries of the conflict in the Middle East.
The report added that Moscow has earned an estimated 1.3 billion dollars to 1.9 billion dollars windfall from taxes on oil exports after the closure of the ‘Strait of Hormuz’ led to rising demand for Russian crude from India and China.
Meanwhile a report by the The Times of India stated that India’s oil purchases from Russia increased by nearly 45 percent in March, rising from around 1 million barrels per day (mbd) in February to 1.5 mbd in the first 11 days of the month.
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.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 13, 2026
Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win U.S. support against Russia.
Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/fbkrXpXa9P
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
