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Updated 2026-03-19 20:05 UTC
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US May Unsanction Iranian Oil Already On the Water, Bessent Says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the U.S. may lift sanctions on Iranian oil already in transit at sea, citing rising energy prices from ongoing military operations in the Middle East. Bessent told Fox News that approximately 140 million barrels of Iranian oil are currently stuck in transit. The potential policy shift comes as the U.S. weighs economic pressures against its sanctions strategy.

Iranian oil sanctions have been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, designed to limit trump-compares-iran-strike-to-pearl-harbor-amid-escalation.html" class="story-link" title="Watch: Trump compares attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japanese PM">Iran's revenue and regional influence. Any reversal would signal a significant shift in approach, potentially driven by domestic economic concerns over rising fuel costs during military operations.
Administration says

Rising energy prices from current military operations justify considering temporary relief on oil already in transit. The Treasury Secretary suggests this measured approach could help stabilize markets while maintaining broader sanctions framework.

Critics say

Lifting any Iranian oil sanctions undermines years of pressure designed to curb Iran's regional activities and nuclear program. Even temporary measures could signal weakness and encourage Iran to test other boundaries.