US envoy Gor hails India as 'great partner' in stabilising oil prices amid West Asia crisis

India is one of the largest consumers and refiners of crude oil and it is essential for New Delhi and Washington to work "hand-in-hand" to ensure stability of the energy market, US ambassador Sergio Gor said on Wednesday.

His reconciliatory overture came as the Congress maintained pressure on the government, alleging that Washington influences India's energy policy.

The opposition party has been targeting the government after the US provided a 30-day waiver for Indian refiners to purchases Russian crude oil in view of the disruptions in the energy market following the West Asia crisis.

"India has been a great partner in maintaining stable oil prices around the world. The United States recognizes ongoing purchases of Russian oil are a part of this effort," the US ambassador said.

"India is one of the largest consumers and refiners of oil and it is essential for the United States and India to work hand in hand for market stability for Americans and Indians," he said on social media.

The Congress on Wednesday took a fresh swipe at the BJP-led government after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in Washington that the US has "temporarily permitted" India to procure Russian oil.

President Donald Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the whole national security team "came to this decision because our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil", Leavitt told a press conference on Tuesday.

The US last week said it was issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil in the backdrop of the escalating West Asia conflict.

Trump, while announcing a trade deal with New Delhi last month, claimed India has agree to not procure crude oil from Russia.

In an executive order, Trump had rolled back an additional 25 per cent tariffs on India that he imposed last August regarding India's procurement of crude oil from Russia.

In the order, the US said it would monitor whether India resumed Russian oil purchases directly or indirectly and that would determine whether a 25 per cent tariff would again be re-impose.

India has been maintaining that it will procure oil from multiple sources and diversify them to ensure stability in the supply chain with national interests remaining the "guiding factor" for the procurement.