US Will Not Renew Iranian Oil Sanctions Waiver as Deadline Nears

WASHINGTON, Apr 14: The United States Department of the Treasury has confirmed that a short-term waiver permitting the sale of Iranian oil stranded at sea will expire on April 19 and will not be renewed, marking a further tightening of sanctions pressure on Iran.

In a statement posted on X, the Treasury said it is “moving aggressively” under its broader “maximum pressure” approach, warning financial institutions of potential secondary sanctions if they continue to facilitate Iranian-linked transactions.

Officials said the department is prepared to use “the full range of available tools” against foreign banks and entities that support what it described as Iran’s activities, including measures that could cut them off from the U.S. financial system.

The waiver, issued on March 20, had temporarily allowed an estimated 140 million barrels of Iranian oil already at sea to reach global markets, helping ease energy supply pressures during the ongoing conflict. Its expiration now signals a return to stricter enforcement as Washington escalates economic measures against Tehran.

The move comes as the United States continues broader enforcement actions targeting Iranian oil exports and financial networks, alongside increased scrutiny of international institutions involved in energy trade linked to Iran.