US Extends Sanctions Waiver on Russian Oil Purchases by One Month

Washington: The United States has extended for another month a sanctions waiver that allows countries to purchase Russian petroleum products, reversing its earlier indication that the measure would not be renewed.

The US Department of the Treasury issued an order late Friday permitting transactions involving Russian oil that was already in transit on or before April 17. The waiver will now remain valid until May 16.

Previously, Washington had granted India a one-month exemption starting March 5 to continue buying Russian oil. Similar waivers were later extended to other countries, with those provisions expiring on April 11.

The newly issued general licence, however, excludes any transactions involving entities or individuals connected to Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or certain regions of Ukraine.

Just days earlier, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had stated that the US did not plan to renew the waivers for Russian and Iranian oil, making the latest extension a notable shift.

The earlier exemption had allowed around 140 million barrels of Russian oil—already loaded onto ships—to reach global markets, helping ease supply pressures during a period of rising prices linked to US-Iran tensions.

According to the Treasury order, General License No. 134A, issued on March 19 and expired on April 11, has now been fully replaced by General License No. 134B, effective April 17, 2026.