At least four oil tankers laden with Russian crude are waiting off India’s western coast, as the Asian country’s purchases of the commodity come under the spotlight amid pressure from the US and European Union.

Tighter Western sanctions aimed at cutting Russia's oil revenue, seen as funding its war against Ukraine, have been increasingly hitting Russian oil supplies for India, which buys more than a third of its oil needs from Russia. Tagor is now heading to Dalian in China, while Tassos is diverting to Port Said in Egypt, the data shows.

Rubio called India an "ally" but noted that Delhi's Russian oil imports were hampering its relationship with Washington.