U.S. Decides Not To Extend Easing For Russian Oil

• 15.04.2026, 21:34

The country's Ministry of Energy also considers further release of resources from reserves unnecessary.

The US will not extend licenses that temporarily granted the right to buy Russian and Iranian oil without imposing secondary restrictions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a White House briefing. The broadcast is streaming on YouTube.

This evening, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also questioned the extension of the measures. "It was a broad easing. I don't think you're going to see it extended," Wright said.

The Energy Department chief also said he believed further release of strategic oil reserves was unnecessary, and noted Venezuela's rising production, which has increased to 1.2 million bpd.

The U.S. Treasury Department's temporary license, which allowed transactions in Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on ships before March 12, was valid until April 11 and was not extended. As Politico notes, the sanctions against Russian oil were thus reinstated. According to Reuters, the U.S. administration will also not extend a similar 30-day exemption for Iranian oil, which expires on April 19.