The US has temporarily lifted sanctions on the sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels until April 17, 2026, according to a publication on the US Treasury Department website.
The cancellation is valid until May 16, 2026. It does not apply to transactions and activities related to Iran, the Iranian government, or goods and services of Iranian origin.
The US Treasury Department's temporary license, which allowed transactions with Russian crude oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels until March 12, was valid until April 11 and was not extended. Politico linked this to the reinstatement of sanctions on Russian oil.
On Wednesday, April 15, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said that the United States does not plan to renew licenses that temporarily allowed the purchase of Russian and Iranian oil without the risk of secondary restrictions.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright also expressed doubts about the extension of these measures. He noted that the relief was broad-based and indicated a low probability of its extension.
On April 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov reported a “moderate increase“ in oil revenues against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East, noting that these amounts are not critical for either the budget or the country's economy as a whole.