The US has allowed operations with Russian oil already loaded on tankers for a month

The pause in sanctions will be in effect until April 11 and also applies to a number of related services – in particular, insurance, mooring and pilotage.

The United States has suspended some of the sanctions restrictions on Russian oil and petroleum products. This was reported by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department.

This is OFAC General License No. 134. The document allows for the sale, delivery and unloading of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian origin if they were loaded onto any vessel no later than March 12, 2026. The license even applies to vessels on the sanctions lists of the US Treasury Department.

In addition to the supplies themselves, the temporary exception also covers services related to the transportation and sale of Russian oil, including parking and mooring of vessels, their insurance and pilotage.

At the same time, the license specifically states that it does not apply to transactions related to Iran, its government, or goods and services of Iranian origin, which remain under current US sanctions.

In fact, Washington opened a short window to complete the already started sea deliveries of Russian oil, without changing the overall sanctions policy towards Russia.

The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz does not justify the lifting of sanctions against Russia.