Issued by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the new General Licence 134B replaces the earlier 30-day waiver that expired on April 11.
#WestAsiaWar | US extends waiver for some #RussianOil trades
US Treasury’s OFAC authorises the delivery & sale of crude oil & petoleum products of Russian Federation Origin Loaded on Vessels as of April 17, 2026 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 vessels 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,” it said.
The extension allows countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil at sea for about a month, replacing a 30-day waiver till May 16.
However, the authorisation excludes dealings involving countries such as Iran, Cuba and North Korea, reported Reuters.
The move comes even as US officials had earlier signalled that such waivers would not be renewed. Just a few days ago, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that US would not renew the waivers for Russian and Iranian oil, both of which were slated to expire.
The extension is seen as part of efforts to stabilise global energy supplies, which have been under strain due to ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
This move came after Asian countries pressed Washington to allow alternate supply to reach markets due to the global energy crisis.
“As negotiations (with Iran) accelerate, Treasury wants to ensure oil is available to those who need it,” a Treasury Department spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The development also follows recent fluctuations in oil prices, which saw a sharp drop after the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the International Energy Agency, the war, however, has already created the worst global energy supply disruption in history.
Meanwhile, US lawmakers from both political parties have criticised the sanctions waivers, arguing that they could end up supporting the economies of countries like Iran and Russia at a time when they are engaged in conflicts involving the US and its allies.
Critics also warned that such waivers may weaken Western efforts to cut off Russia’s financial resources for its war in Ukraine, potentially creating friction with allies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stressed that sanctions should not be eased at this stage.
Reacting to the extension, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev suggested that economic and energy cooperation between the US and Russia could continue.
BREAKING: The US has authorized transactions involving Russian oil loaded onto tankers before April 17, with the authorization remaining in force until May 16.
US-Russian economic and energy cooperation will continue. pic.twitter.com/NBK3lOuZB5
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) April 18, 2026
Brett Erickson, a sanctions expert at the consulting firm Obsidian Risk Advisors, noted that the ongoing conflict has caused deep disruptions in global energy markets, adding that Friday’s renewal is likely not the last waiver Washington will issue. “The conflict has done lasting damage to global energy markets, and the tools available to stabilize them are nearly exhausted,” Erickson added.
