The US has amended sanctions to prohibit Russian oil shipments at sea destined for Cuba and North Korea, despite previously easing some restrictions on Russian tankers.
On Thursday, the United States announced an amendment to its sanctions relief regarding Russian oil tankers, specifically targeting shipments that are bound for Cuba and North Korea, which remain under US restrictions. This move comes as part of a broader strategy to manage the sale of oil from Russian vessels that are currently at sea, a situation that was temporarily relaxed on March 12 due to rising energy prices following geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Under the new general license, while the sale of Russian oil from tankers at sea is still allowed, transactions with adversarial countries such as Cuba and North Korea are explicitly prohibited. This amendment added restrictions that were not previously included, as the original sanctions only made exceptions for transactions involving Iran. Additionally, it now encompasses certain Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, reflecting the US's ongoing efforts to enforce economic measures against Russia in light of its invasion of Ukraine.
The temporary easing of sanctions on March 12 allowed shipments of Russian crude oil and petroleum products amid a backdrop of soaring energy prices resulting from US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which have escalated tensions in the region. However, by re-establishing restrictions specifically targeting certain nations, the US government aims to limit Russia's ability to economically benefit from its oil exports while maintaining pressure on its adversaries, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and international diplomatic dynamics.
