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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump postponed the implementation of new Russia-related restrictions under the Graham Act for 60 days to assess their potential impact on the US and global economies.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said the legislation covers both Russia and Iran, requiring the administration to take additional time to determine how it should be implemented.
He explained that exemptions had been built into the bill because lawmakers recognised the need to assess developments affecting global energy markets. These include tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which has seen energy infrastructure targeted.
Rubio also pointed to countries such as India, which have diversified their energy supplies but continue to rely heavily on Russian energy because switching suppliers cannot happen overnight. He described India as an important US ally and partner, saying the president needed time to find the right balance.
Asked whether the decision would amount to a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rubio argued that Russian diesel would reach the global market regardless. The question, he said, was what share of those supplies the United States could obtain.
“This is not unprecedented. If you recall, a few months ago we also introduced a 60-day exemption for Russian oil when tensions arose in the Strait of Hormuz,” Rubio said.
He added that overlapping conflicts around the world were affecting not only global oil and diesel prices but also economic conditions in the United States, where fuel prices remain higher than consumers would like.
Trump postponed the new sanctions and tariffs against Russia just days before they were due to take effect under legislation designed to increase pressure on Moscow over its war against Ukraine. In an order published by the White House on 16 October, Trump said the decision was in the national interest of the United States.
The move has drawn criticism from US lawmakers, including some Republicans. Critics argue that easing energy restrictions could help Russia finance its war against Ukraine, while Rubio has defended the delay as a measure to assess the broader economic consequences of the restrictions.
