The United States has allowed an exemption to expire that had eased sanctions on Russian oil in recent weeks amid rising energy prices in the Iran war.
May 17, 2026, 04:01May 17, 2026, 04:01
Just over a month ago, a Treasury Department agency announced that the sale and delivery of Russian oil that had been loaded onto ships by a certain date would be exempt from US bans until Saturday night. By the afternoon (local time), the authority had not published any information on its website about an extension of the measure.
The US has had sanctions affecting the Russian oil sector for years. With its exemption, the USA wanted to calm global energy markets. For this reason, they had already initiated such a measure for a few weeks in mid-March. Critics complained that this would strengthen Russia financially. The Kremlin uses revenue from the oil industry to finance its war against Ukraine.
Russia benefits from Trump’s war in Iran through higher oil revenues.Image: keystone
Democrats: Measure good for Russia, ineffective for USA
Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren called on the US government led by President Donald Trump on Friday not to extend the latest exemption: “The Treasury Department must finally end its ill-conceived policy of helping Russia make even more money from President Trump’s reckless war in Iran,” they said in a joint statement. With regard to the price of gasoline in the USA, there are no signs that the measure will reduce costs for American families.
The price of gasoline has risen significantly in the United States since the war in Iran began. This Saturday, Americans had to pay an average of 4.52 US dollars (3.56 francs) for a gallon (3,785 liters), according to an overview by the AAA automobile association. At the beginning of the war started by the USA and Israel, the average value was $2.98.
For Trump and his Republicans, the increased price of gas is an uncomfortable topic. Because many people in the USA are dependent on their cars – and attention is increasingly turning to the important midterm elections for Congress in the fall. (sda/dpa)