Issued by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the new General License 134B replaces the previous 30-day waiver that lapsed on April 11.
#WestAsiaWar | US extends waiver for some #RussianOil transactions
The US Treasury’s OFAC has authorized the delivery & sale of crude oil & petroleum products of Russian Federation origin loaded on vessels as of April 17, 2026, extending through May 16
–Effective April 17, 2026, General License No.… pic.twitter.com/aHIv0PAMD1
— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) April 18, 2026
“All transactions prohibited by the above-listed authorities that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the sale, delivery, or offloading of crude oil or petroleum products of Russian Federation origin loaded on any vessel, including those blocked under the above-listed authorities, on or before 12:01 am eastern daylight time, April 17, 2026, are authorized through 12:01 am eastern daylight time, May 16, 2026,” the announcement stated.
The extension permits nations to purchase sanctioned Russian oil at sea for an additional month, succeeding the previous 30-day waiver valid until May 16.
However, this authorization does not cover transactions involving countries like Iran, Cuba, and North Korea, as reported by Reuters.
This action follows indications from US officials that such waivers would not be renewed. Just days before, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared that the waivers for Russian and Iranian oil, both set to expire, would not be continued.
The extension appears aimed at stabilizing global energy supplies, which have been under pressure due to persistent conflicts in West Asia.
This decision emerged after Asian nations urged Washington to facilitate alternative supplies to reach markets amid the global energy crisis.
“As negotiations (with Iran) progress, Treasury wants to ensure that oil is accessible to those in need,” a spokesperson from the Treasury Department was quoted by Reuters.
This development also comes after recent fluctuations in oil prices, which experienced a notable decrease following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The International Energy Agency reported that the war has already induced the most significant global energy supply disruption in history.
Meanwhile, lawmakers from both sides of the US political spectrum have expressed concerns regarding the sanctions waivers, arguing they could inadvertently benefit the economies of nations like Iran and Russia during their conflicts with the US and its allies.
Critics have also cautioned that such waivers might undermine Western initiatives to sever Russia’s financial capabilities for its war in Ukraine, potentially causing rifts with allies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized that sanctions should not be relaxed at this stage.
In response to the extension, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev suggested that economic and energy collaboration between the US and Russia may persist.
BREAKING: The US has authorized transactions involving Russian oil loaded onto tankers before April 17, with the authorization remaining in effect until May 16.
Continued US-Russian economic and energy collaboration is anticipated. pic.twitter.com/NBK3lOuZB5
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) April 18, 2026
Brett Erickson, a sanctions expert at Obsidian Risk Advisors, noted that the ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted global energy markets, adding that Friday’s renewal is likely not the final waiver from Washington. “The conflict has inflicted lasting damage to global energy markets, with few tools left to stabilize them,” Erickson stated.
