Bangladesh, March 9 -- The United States has defended its decision to grant India a temporary waiver allowing the continued purchase of Russian oil, as global energy markets face mounting pressure from the escalating conflict in the Middle East. With oil prices surging and fears of supply disruptions growing, Washington says the move is intended to stabilize global markets rather than weaken its sanctions regime against Moscow.

Senior US officials argue that the 30-day waiver will help ease immediate supply concerns by allowing millions of barrels of Russian crude currently stranded on tankers at sea to reach Indian refineries. The decision comes at a time when the war involving Iran has already triggered sharp volatility in global energ...