{ "id": 8407590, "title": "Doublespeak in US sanctions law: No Russian oil for others, exception for its own uranium imports", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/doublespeak-in-us-sanctions-law-no-russian-oil-for-others-exception", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-09-19T07:14:18.000Z", "source": { "name": "The Indian Express", "slug": "the-indian-express", "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/us-russia-sanctions-law-russian-uranium-imports-exception-explained-10884789/" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "The 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' was signed into law by US President Donald Trump on Friday. This legislation empowers the President to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports of Russian oil and gas, targeting countries like China and India. The aim is to reduce Russia's energy revenues in response to its war in Ukraine. However, the law also establishes an exception to allow the US to continue importing a critical material from Russia - uranium for its nuclear power industry. The law explicitly states that this exception applies to imports of low-enriched uranium (LEU) described in a specific paragraph. This creates a stark contradiction between the US's rhetoric and actions towards Russia. While Washington is pressuring developing nations to shift away from Russian oil, it is simultaneously increasing its uranium imports from Russia, even post the Ukraine war. In 2025, the US imported $1.02 billion worth of enriched uranium from Russia, comprising 23.42% of its total LEU imports for that year, according to data from the US International Trade Commission (USITC). This figure represents a 23.75% increase in US imports from Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, from $829.75 million in 2022. The term 'low-enriched uranium' refers to uranium with a U-235 concentration raised from its natural 0.7% level to 3-5% to sustain nuclear fission in reactors. The US needs this enriched uranium for its 96 large light water reactors, which rely on LEU fuel. Currently, the US imports about 81% of its LEU needs, with Russia being its largest supplier at 40% of global enrichment capacity. Despite calls for diversifying oil sources, India's current dependence on Russian oil is deeply entrenched. In August alone, India imported 2.08 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil, constituting 45% of its total oil imports. This dependence persists even as the US and other Western nations push for reduced Russian oil imports due to geopolitical tensions.", "summary": null, "key_points": [], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 12, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "People Daily Kenya", "title": "Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill", "published": "2026-09-19T04:17:38.000Z" }, { "outlet": "KahawaTungu", "title": "Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill-8390367", "published": "2026-09-19T05:13:47.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Free Press Journal", "title": "Trump Signs Russia-Iran Sanctions Act, Authorises Up To 100% Tariffs On Russian Oil Buyers Including India", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-russia-iran-sanctions-act-authorises-up-to-100-tariffs-on", "published": "2026-09-19T05:50:02.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Gulf News", "title": "Donald Trump says his son’s wedding party being bankrolled by a Russian oligarch is ‘totally allowed’", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/donald-trump-says-his-sons-wedding-party-being-bankrolled-by-a", "published": "2026-09-19T06:07:33.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The Indian Express", "title": "Trump’s Russia sanctions Bill: What 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers can mean for India", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trumps-russia-sanctions-bill-what-100-tariffs-on-russian-oil-buyers", "published": "2026-09-19T06:08:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Times of India", "title": "Trump signs Russia sanctions bill: Will India actually face 100% tariff", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill-will-india-actually-face-100-tariff", "published": "2026-09-19T06:18:13.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics", "title": "Sybiha on Trump signing Graham Sanctioning Russia Act: Truly historic day", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/sybiha-on-trump-signing-graham-sanctioning-russia-act-truly-historic", "published": "2026-09-19T06:42:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "New Straits Times", "title": "Trump: Son to repay Russian oligarch who funded wedding parties", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-son-to-repay-russian-oligarch-who-funded-wedding-parties", "published": "2026-09-19T06:43:53.000Z" }, { "outlet": "KBC", "title": "Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill-8410684", "published": "2026-09-19T07:19:38.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine", "title": "Trump signs Graham's bill imposing sanctions on Russia", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-grahams-bill-imposing-sanctions-on-russia", "published": "2026-09-19T08:10:18.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The Moscow Times", "title": "Trump Signs Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/trump-signs-sweeping-russia-sanctions-bill-8423470", "published": "2026-09-19T08:53:59.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }