Amid concerns over Russia sanctions law, Foreign Secretary meets U.S. delegation

Days after members of the U.S. Congress passed a new Russia sanctions law targeting India and other oil importers of Russian crude oil, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday (September 27, 2026) met with a five-member Congressional Delegation headed by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Brian Mast.

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The delegation included Bill co-sponsor Jimmy Patronis, Republican representative James Gallagher, and Democrat Hailey Stevens, both of whom voted in favour of it, as well as Shri Thanedar, an Indian-born U.S. lawmaker, who had voted against the Bill. The meeting follows days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised India’s concerns about possible sanctions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, and Mr. Misri discussed the issue with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA), passed in the U.S. Congress on September 16, mandates that U.S. President Donald Trump impose up to 100% sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil and extends sanctions on trade with Iran. A determination on what kind of sanctions, if any, would be imposed on India is expected to be made next month, with a 30-day deadline pending. Officials did not comment on whether Mr. Misri discussed or received any assurances on a waiver of the sanctions that can be granted under certain conditions.

“Discussions covered the entire gamut of India-U.S. relations, including the recently enacted SRIA legislation and the future trajectory of the relationship,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post about the meeting that was held at Mr. Misri’s residence. “They also exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern, energy security, counter-terrorism and freedom of navigation,” he added.

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Mr. Mast is an American Army veteran who lost both his legs in a blast in Kandahar in 2010. He works on counter-terrorism issues and has an interest in South Asia. During the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, Mr. Mast said in an interview that he had spoken to “both sides” and urged de-escalation after India’s strikes on Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attacks. He has also advocated sanctions on Russia and supports secondary sanctions that have now been proposed against China and India, who are major buyers of Russian oil. He has criticised China in particular for military supplies to Russia during the war in Ukraine. 

Mr. Thanedar was the only member of the delegation who voted against the Bill, and was one of five Indian-Americans who opposed it, largely over concerns about the powers it would grant the U.S. President.