Iranian officials have reacted to a recent temporary exemption granted by the United States that allows for the sale of Iranian oil that has been stranded at sea since March 20, 2026. Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the quantities of oil in question have already been sold, effectively saying that 'the quantity is exhausted.' This comment underscores the limitations in Iran's current oil supply and market situation, which has been impacted by ongoing sanctions.

Further comments from Iranian Oil Ministry spokesman Saman Qadousi reinforced that Iran does not have any floating crude or surplus available in the market at this time. He indicated that the US announcements appear designed to reassure buyers and influence market psychology rather than reflect a significant change in how much Iranian oil can actually be accessed. This indicates a level of skepticism regarding the impact of the US measures on the Iranian oil market.

The US decision to temporarily exempt certain Iranian oil sales follows previous adjustments to sanctions on Russian oil and aims to alleviate global energy market pressures by reintroducing potentially 140 million barrels of Iranian oil to the international market over the next 30 days. This move is part of a broader strategy to stabilize energy prices amid supply concerns, but Iranian officials are asserting that in practice, their ability to meet any revived demand is currently compromised due to the state of their oil inventory.