US refuses to renew extension of waiver for Iranian oil sales at sea

The United States will not extend a 30-day waiver on sanctions covering Iranian oil already in maritime transport, with the measure set to expire this week, according to the US Department of the Treasury.

The department said it will continue its “maximum pressure” policy against Iran under its sanctions strategy, referred to as “Economic Fury.”

“Financial institutions should be on notice that the department is leveraging the full range of available tools and authorities and is prepared to deploy secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that continue to support Iran’s activities. The short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed,” the Treasury statement read.

Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury, maintaining maximum pressure on Iran. Financial institutions should be on notice that the department is leveraging the full range of available tools and authorities and is prepared to deploy secondary sanctions against foreign…

— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) April 14, 2026

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the authorisation issued on March 20 allowed around 140 million barrels of oil to reach global markets and eased pressure on energy supplies during the war in Iran. The waiver expires on April 19. According to sources, the US also did not extend permission related to the transport of Russian oil.

By Jeyhun Aghazada