US Treasury confirms Iranian oil sanctions waiver will expire, not be renewed
The US Treasury confirmed a Reuters report that a short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil stranded at sea will expire on April 19 and will not be renewed.
“Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury, maintaining maximum pressure on Iran,” the department said in a post on X.
“Financial institutions should be on notice that the department is leveraging the full range of available tools and authorities and is prepared to deploy secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that continue to support Iran’s activities,” it added.
“The short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed,” the Treasury said.
The Trump administration will allow a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to expire later this week as the US imposes a blockade on shipments from Iranian ports, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two administration officials.
The move signals that “Treasury is going full force on Economic Fury” against Iran, the report quoted one of the officials as saying, in an apparent reference to Operation Epic Fury.
The waiver, which the Treasury Department issued on March 20, allowed some 140 million barrels of oil to reach global markets and helped relieve pressure on energy supply during the war on Iran. The waiver is set to expire on April 19.
Sharp disagreements among members of Iran’s negotiating team led them to abandon US talks in Islamabad and return to Tehran on April 11 following an order from Iran's top security official, sources familiar with the deliberations told Iran International.
The sources said that during Friday’s negotiations with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi showed signs of flexibility in some of his positions, particularly regarding reducing or halting financial and military support for the so-called Axis of Resistance, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Sharp disagreements among members of Iran’s negotiating team led them to abandon US talks in Islamabad and return to Tehran on April 11 following an order from Iran's top security official, sources familiar with the deliberations told Iran International.
The sources said that during Friday’s negotiations with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi showed signs of flexibility in some of his positions, particularly regarding reducing or halting financial and military support for the so-called Axis of Resistance, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
According to the sources, this approach drew a strong reaction from Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, in Tehran.
The sources said Zolghadr, who was briefed on the talks, submitted a report to the leadership and senior IRGC commanders, which fueled anger at the highest levels. The report reportedly cited “deviation from the delegation’s mandate” and engagement in discussions beyond the leadership’s directives.
Following consultations at the leadership level, and with the involvement of Hossein Taeb, an advisor to the supreme leader, an order was issued on Saturday afternoon for the delegation’s immediate return to Tehran, the sources said.
Reports of similar internal rifts had surfaced earlier. On March 28, accounts emerged of serious disagreements between President Masoud Pezeshkian and IRGC Chief-Commander Ahmad Vahidi.
Informed sources told Iran International that the rifts stemmed from disagreements over the conduct of the war and its impact on livelihoods and the wider economy.
Three days later, reports indicated Pezeshkian was dissatisfied with being in a “complete political deadlock” and had even lost authority over appointing officials killed during the war.
According to those reports, Vahidi had said that due to wartime conditions, all key managerial positions should be directly controlled by the IRGC until further notice.
Iran’s insistence on continuing its nuclear program and maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz ultimately contributed to the failure of the Islamabad talks, according to reports.
Following the breakdown, the United States announced a naval blockade targeting Iran’s southern ports, with US Central Command saying from Monday morning it would prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports. The blockade was implemented as scheduled.
Despite the failure of the first round of talks, Pakistan said on Monday that consultations with both sides were ongoing and another round of talks remained possible.
US President Donald Trump also told the New York Post on Tuesday that talks with Iran “could resume within two days” in Pakistan.
Sources had earlier told Reuters that despite the apparent deadlock, diplomatic channels remain open, with an Iranian embassy official in Pakistan saying the next round of talks could take place later this week or early next week.
Iran’s exiled prince Reza Pahlavi on Tuesday said he had arrived in Rome to meet Italian political and business leaders.
“I will ensure the Iranian people’s voice is not silenced and will discuss the only true path to peace, security, and prosperity for the world— the liberation of Iran from the Islamic Republic,” he said on X.
An adviser to Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei warned that blockading the Strait of Hormuz would escalate tensions and open new fronts, while calling US President Donald Trump a “loser” in a post on X.
“Trump’s bewilderment is the prelude to yet another mistake,” Mohammad Mokhber wrote.
“The illusion of blockading the Strait of Hormuz not only yields no achievement but will lead to another surprise and the opening of new fronts against the system of domination, increasing economic pressure on the region, the world, and their allies,” he added.
He described Trump as a “loser,” adding that the US president has no choice but to “accept defeat.”
