Will exemption for Russian oil remain in force? Bessent gives clear answer
Photo: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Getty Images)
The US Department of the Treasury had previously granted an exemption from the sanctions regime for Russian crude oil, which expired on April 11. Washington does not intend to extend any easing measures for the aggressor, states US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the Clash Report.
"We will not be renewing the general license on Russian oil, and we will not be renewing the general license on Iranian oil," he emphasized.
Previously, the US Department of the Treasury had temporarily allowed the sale of Russian crude oil that had been stranded on tankers at sea due to supply disruptions.
The previous authorization for selling the aggressor state’s crude expired on April 11. In addition, a separate authorization related to Iranian oil and petrochemical products will expire on April 19.
Easing of sanctions on Russian oil
On March 13, the US Department of the Treasury temporarily eased oil sanctions against Russia. It allowed the aggressor state to sell already shipped oil resources, effectively providing short-term relief from sanctions pressure on Moscow.
Recently, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been considering extending special exemptions for the purchase of Russian oil in order to stabilize domestic fuel prices in the US.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that there are currently no grounds for easing sanctions pressure on Russia, as this would only encourage further Kremlin aggression.
It is worth noting that Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal stated that lifting anti-Russian oil sanctions for 30 days amounted to a "reward" for Russian President Vladimir Putin for providing Iran with intelligence used in strikes against US troops.
