PAR ALEXEI DOVAL
Published on 18/04/2026 – 11:25 UTC+2Updated at 11:41 UTC+2
The United States has extended the so-called “pause on sanctions” targeting Russian oil and petroleum product shipments to alleviate the fuel shortage caused by the war with Iran. This decision comes just days after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously ruled out such a possibility. According to a statement from the Treasury Department, American sanctions on Russian oil cargoes loaded on tankers as of Friday, April 17, will not apply for 30 days.
This extension builds upon existing eased sanctions, which had expired on April 11, allowing Moscow to increase its hydrocarbon export revenues during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The new license will be valid until May 16.
It is noteworthy that just a day prior, Secretary Bessent had announced at the White House that there would be no extension of the Russian oil license. This new measure by the Trump administration aims to address global fuel supply disruptions following Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transport route.
The resulting spike in oil prices has put pressure on countries reliant on oil exports. Even in the U.S., gas prices have risen, impacting American households ahead of crucial midterm elections. However, these waivers could complicate efforts to cut off Russia’s oil revenues used in the war against Ukraine, as Russia benefits from the situation in the Middle East.
Following a G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Washington this week, French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure emphasized that “Russia should not benefit from what is happening in Iran.” He also stressed that Ukraine should not be a “collateral victim.”
Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren jointly criticized the decision as “shameful.” They pointed out the reversal in Bessent’s stance just two days after he pledged not to extend sanctions relief against Russia.
“It’s clear that Putin has been one of the major beneficiaries of Trump’s war against Iran, with Russia nearly doubling its oil revenues in March,” the senators added. The Russian invasion of Ukraine initiated in 2022 has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Additional sources: AP, AFP
