Aramco halts contracted crude to Indian refiners as US bill threatens tariffs on Russia buyers

State-owned Saudi Aramco has told Indian refiners it will stop contracted crude deliveries until further notice, RT reported, after attacks damaged the East-West Pipeline, an alternative route while Strait of Hormuz flows remain disrupted.

Aramco has supplied roughly 9% of India's crude imports since the Middle East conflict began, according to RT.

A second pressure point emerged the same week. The National reported that the US House of Representatives has granted President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on any of the five largest buyers of Russian crude or gas that knowingly book a new cargo.

Russian barrels now cover more than 40% of India's overall oil supplies, a share built up after Russia's invasion of Ukraine as Indian refiners bought discounted cargoes, Reuters reported.

Reuters framed the trade-off in narrow terms: pulling back on Russian imports to sidestep possible US tariffs risks higher fuel prices ahead of key regional elections or added strain on public finances, while staying the course could cripple Indian exports to its largest market.

New Delhi said it had cautioned the US that the measure could damage bilateral relations and disrupt global energy markets, and pledged to keep "ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people" through diversified sourcing, according to Reuters.