image sourced from original article at The United States Treasury has issued a 30-day extension of a sanctions waiver allowing purchases of Russian seaborne oil, aiming to support energy-vulnerable countries affected by the war involving Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The decision reverses earlier plans not to renew the waiver and permits temporary access to Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded on tankers without breaching existing sanctions.
According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the extension is intended to stabilize global crude markets and ensure supplies reach countries struggling to secure shipments from the Gulf region. Officials said several poorer nations requested the extension after disruptions linked to the conflict limited their access to alternative sources of oil.
The move marks the second time the waiver has been allowed to lapse before being reinstated. While the administration argues the measure will ease supply shortages and curb price spikes, critics in Congress have condemned the decision as a concession that could benefit Russian leadership. The waiver applies only to previously stranded oil and does not cover new production from Russia.
