India flags SRIA concerns to US Congressional delegation: MEA
Synopsis
India is mounting a sustained, multi-level diplomatic campaign against the US Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act — from Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's Sunday meeting with a Congressional delegation in New Delhi, to EAM Jaishankar personally flagging concerns to Secretary of State Rubio at the UN. With Indian refiners heavily reliant on Russian crude, the SRIA is not an abstract geopolitical dispute for New Delhi — it is an energy security and economic risk.
Key Takeaways
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met a US Congressional delegation led by Representative Brian Mast on Sunday in New Delhi .
India formally conveyed concerns over the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) , citing risks to bilateral ties and the international energy market .
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the meeting at a bi-weekly media briefing on Tuesday .
Jaishankar also raised the SRIA directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the UN High Level Week in New York .
Foreign Secretary Misri separately met US Under Secretary Allison Hooker in New York , covering SRIA, energy security, civil nuclear cooperation, and the TRUST initiative.
India formally conveyed its concerns over the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) to a visiting US Congressional delegation on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Tuesday. The concerns centred on the legislation's potential impact on India-US bilateral relations and on the international energy market.
What Happened at the Meeting
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met the bipartisan US Congressional delegation, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Representative Brian Mast, on Sunday in New Delhi. The discussions spanned the full breadth of India-US ties, with the recently enacted SRIA legislation and the future direction of the bilateral relationship featuring prominently.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to a question at a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, said: 'The Foreign Secretary conveyed our concerns regarding the SRIA legislation, including the kind of implications it would have for the bilateral relationship as well as the international energy market.' The delegation also included US Representative Shri Thanedar and other American lawmakers.
Key Issues on the Table
Beyond the SRIA, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral and international matters, including energy security, counter-terrorism, and freedom of navigation. The MEA noted that 'discussions covered the entire gamut of India-US relations, including the recently enacted SRIA legislation and the future trajectory of the relationship.'
Notably, Foreign Secretary Misri also held a separate meeting last week with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker in New York, where similar ground was covered — including energy security, the SRIA, civil nuclear cooperation, the Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative, and the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture initiative.
Jaishankar-Rubio Exchange at the UN
The diplomatic push on the SRIA has been consistent at the highest levels. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier discussed possible sanctions against countries trading with Russia and Iran during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN High Level Week in New York.
EAM Jaishankar posted on X: 'Good to meet Secretary Marco Rubio of the US at UN High Level Week. Reiterated India's interests and concerns with regard to SRIA. Also discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations.' The post underscored that India's unease with the legislation is being articulated at every available diplomatic forum.
Why SRIA Matters for India
The SRIA is a US legislative measure targeting nations that trade with Russia and Iran, two countries with which India maintains significant energy and trade ties. India has been one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude oil since the Ukraine conflict began, and any secondary sanctions regime could directly affect Indian refiners, energy security, and the broader macroeconomic calculus. This diplomatic outreach — spanning a Congressional delegation visit, a bilateral meeting in New York, and a ministerial exchange at the UN — signals that New Delhi is treating the SRIA as a priority concern requiring urgent and sustained engagement with Washington.
Point of View
Under Secretary-level talks, and a ministerial exchange at the UN — reflects the depth of New Delhi's anxiety about secondary sanctions. What mainstream coverage underplays is the structural bind: India has built its post-Ukraine energy strategy around discounted Russian crude, and any SRIA enforcement mechanism could unravel that calculus overnight. The fact that both the Foreign Secretary and the External Affairs Minister are personally carrying this message suggests the government views the legislation not as a hypothetical threat but as an imminent one. The real question is whether Washington will carve out an India-specific exemption — and what New Delhi will offer in return.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA)?
The SRIA is a US legislative measure that targets countries trading with Russia and Iran, potentially imposing secondary sanctions on their entities and financial systems. For India, which imports significant volumes of Russian crude oil, the act poses direct risks to its energy security and trade relationships.
Why did India raise concerns about the SRIA with the US Congressional delegation?
India raised concerns because the SRIA could adversely affect its bilateral relationship with the United States and disrupt the international energy market. India has been a major buyer of Russian crude oil since the Ukraine conflict, and secondary sanctions could directly impact Indian refiners and energy costs.
Who represented India and the US at the Sunday meeting in New Delhi?
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India, while the US delegation was led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Representative Brian Mast. The delegation also included US Representative Shri Thanedar and other American lawmakers.
Has India raised the SRIA at other diplomatic levels as well?
Yes. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discussed the SRIA with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the UN High Level Week in New York, and Foreign Secretary Misri separately met US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker in New York, covering the same legislation alongside energy security and civil nuclear cooperation.
What other issues were discussed during the Congressional delegation's visit?
Beyond the SRIA, discussions covered energy security, counter-terrorism, freedom of navigation, and the broader future trajectory of India-US relations, reflecting the wide scope of bilateral engagement between the two countries.
