Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026: Has Trump crossed the limits of India’s Patience?

The US president Trump has signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law on 18 September, 2026. Many observers of India’s foreign policy ponder whether Trump has crossed the limits of India’s patience by passing Lindsey Graham act and its serious implications for India.

The Lindsey Graham Act, among other things punishes countries which purchase oil from Russia and do business with Iran. In case of Iran, this new act actually extends the duration of earlier law (Iran Sanctions Act, 1996) till 31^st December, 2031.

Those countries which violate this act will face the secondary US sanctions in the form of 100 percent tariff, banking restrictions, asset freezes, and visa restrictions. The act also authorizes the US President to exempt countries which consult the President and abide by his dictates.

Though China is also affected by this act, but it is more harmful to India due to the following reasons:

1. India will face sanctions like 100percent tariffs from the US if it purchases oil from Russia. In view of  disruptions in both Hormuz Strait (due to actions of both Iran and the US) as well Bab al Mandeb due to actions of Houthis, India has limited options to purchase oil. At present India imports 40 percent of total external imports of oil from Russia. This will continue amid the threat of US sanctions as India does not have other options. The US president has failed to understand this compulsion  faced by India.
2. As far as Iran is concerned, India is operating Shahid Beheshti terminal of Chabahar port of Iran under an agreement signed between the two countries in May 2024. So far India has invested $120 million on the development of this terminal. Earlier the US granted waiver to India for this port, which lapsed in April, 2026. Now the fresh sanctions have come into place by the Lindsey Graham act. The Chabahar port holds strategic importance for India as it provides connectivity to India to Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is also crucial for operationalization of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which links Moscow with Mumbai and essentially passes through Chabahar port.

Image Courtesy: Randompiuckup

Thus, the impact of the new Lindsey Graham act on India is enormous.

What would be India’ Reaction?

No Doubt, India has very close strategic ties with the US, meticulously developed in the post-cold war era in the last three decades. But, in our assessment, India would not buckle down under the threat of US sanctions due to following reasons:

1. India’s oil requirement from Russia is the question of her energy security, which India cannot compromise.
2. India is a civilizational state, with vast diplomatic experience of handling such threats. Because of the same reason, India is not going to confront the US on this issue. India would just carry on whatever is required for her national interest without confronting the US.
3. Trump has poor knowledge of diplomacy and history of both. He should not forget about effective implementation of India’s Non-alignment policy during the heyday of cold war. In 1971 during Indo-Pak war, the US mobilized her 7^th fleet to threatened India, but India diplomacy triumphed and the US has to withdraw his fleet. Finally, India won the war.
4. US does not have moral or legal authority to impose such sanctions. Such sanctions can be imposed only by the US Security Council.

The Indian strategy would be to ensure peaceful demise of theses sanctions. That is what Trump fails to understand.