“ Trumpian Logic ”: Chellaney slams us on oil sanctions, says that Russia is not under Iranian style embargo
Strategic business expert Brahma Chellaney criticized what he calls “sloppy ignorance or deliberate rotation” by American decision -makers and commentators on the distinction between sanctions against Iranian and Russian oil.
In an article strongly written on X (formerly Twitter), Chellaney stressed what he considers inconsistencies in Washington’s approach to sanctions related to oil and the geopolitical pressure it exerts on India.
“The United States has sanctions against Iranian oil exports, which China has long flouted with impunity,” wrote Chellaney. “On Russian oil, on the other hand, there is the price ceiling of the G7, a ban on American imports, and now Trump’s threat of secondary prices ” – but not an export embargo of Iranian style.”
Chellaney underlined the recent statements by the American senator Marco Rubio and the former head of hedge funds Scott Bessent, who qualified Russian oil as “sanctioned”. He rejected their claims as “sloppy ignorance” or a deliberate attempt to blur the differences between the two regimes.
“The key distinction is striking: Iran’s American sanctions are designed to stop all oil exports, while G7 measurement simply seeks to limit the price of Russian exports and the end of Moscow income,” he said. “Pretending to the contrary … is a rotation to justify the armaments of the prices.”
Turning to the role of India in the energy trade, Chellaney accused US President Donald Trump of hypocrisy. “Trump rides India to abandon Russian oil in favor of the American crude,” he noted. “However, in a turn of Trumpian logic, its 25% price on Indian products easily spares Indian exports of refined fuel such as diesel and throwing fuel in the United States – even if these very fuel are increasingly manufactured from Russian Brut.”
“So, apparently, Russian oil is toxic – unless it is directed by an Indian refinery and pumped into American planes,” joked Chellaney.
The remarks are involved in the intensification of the debate in Washington on how to react to global Russian oil purchases and the calls renewed by certain American politicians to apply more strict measures – potentially affecting key business partners such as India.
