US eases some Russian oil sanctions but crude prices stay high

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by By DAVID MCHUGHMarch 13, 2026 at 07:53 PM

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long article 6 min

The U.S. has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments due to global concerns about high crude prices resulting from supply shortages caused by the Iran war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that U.S. sanctions would not apply for 30 days to Russian oil loaded on tankers as of Thursday, giving purchasers assurance they won't violate U.S. rules. This decision aims to stabilize markets worried about disruptions to Middle Eastern oil and gas supplies. The move highlights how the war has increased Russia's ability to profit from energy exports, which are crucial to the Kremlin's budget as it continues its invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration made the decision.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kremlin 30% Donald Trump 30% United Arab Emirates 30% Strait of Hormuz 40% Ukraine 50% Iran 50% Vladimir Putin 60% Scott Bessent ×270% Russia ×380% United States ×590%

Keywords

russian oil sanctions 90% crude prices 80% supply shortages 70% oil shipments 70% energy exports 60% iran war 60% strait of hormuz 50% vladimir putin 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

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Source

Associated Press (AP)

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

United States

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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russian oil sanctions crude prices supply shortages oil shipments energy exports iran war strait of hormuz vladimir putin

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