U.S. eases some sanctions on Russian oil, but crude prices remain high

PBS NewsHour
by David McHugh, Associated Press
March 13, 2026
4 views
1 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

U.S. eases sanctions on Russian oil exports but crude prices stay high.

How This Affects You

Gas prices remain elevated despite efforts to calm energy markets.

AI Summary

The U.S. eased certain sanctions on Russian oil exports to calm markets concerned about Middle Eastern supply disruptions. The sanctions relief increases Moscow's ability to profit from energy exports, which form a key pillar of the Kremlin's budget funding its Ukraine invasion.

What's Being Done

The U.S. has provided sanctions relief to increase oil supply availability.

Source Coverage Map

12 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

28% coverage
Did Not Cover (31)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP US News96AP Top News96ProPublica95+26 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Scoop: Trump eases Venezuela sanctions on oil, fertilizer to blunt Iran war costs
Politics

Scoop: Trump eases Venezuela sanctions on oil, fertilizer to blunt Iran war costs

<p>The Treasury Department made it easier Friday for U.S. businesses and farmers to buy Venezuelan fertilizer and oil as their prices rise because of the <a href="https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran war,</a> Axios has learned.</p><p><strong>Why it matters</strong>: The bottleneck of tankers in the Persian Gulf because of Iranian attacks has caused the costs of oil and fertilizer, a petrochemical product, to jump. It threatens to spike inflation and raise the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/iran-us-israel-war-food-crisis-prices-fertilizer-energy-costs-inflation/a-76286348" target="_blank">cost </a>of food in the U.S.</p><hr><ul><li>By reducing sanctions on oil-rich Venezuela, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-trump-officials-ship-escorts-hormuz-strait" target="_blank">Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent</a> hopes to increase supplies in the U.S. and lower prices.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in:</strong> The Office of Foreign Assets Control, which manages ...

AxiosMar 13
Japan to consider whether to buy Russian crude following US sanctions waiver - Reuters
Politics

Japan to consider whether to buy Russian crude following US sanctions waiver - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3wFBVV95cUxPREYxU0xXSUpSVkRnZE9ocFBKVVd3UlowMlg5VzNjSUE3azBfYVNsbzVpdmR0amZ2SF9QN2VfbU1QTzZmVmlzNDllY3R0djFaZjBzaEJrZUdhLU5ZcEg1NFdZR1lmRGEyX09YMkFqbHNPSWRnNmk1b0hLWDRQeHN3cHVadXkyc1VjRFQ3VlhjbUdPY0VOcXhwN3JtUDZNZWotTEQzZU93VjBlaU9lVTFzME1SWmdsYmRSRC05QlN2MjlWdnVkdXF3SXUxWDk5d05ndTF0VUh0aV9xc2pvcEtz?oc=5" target="_blank">Japan to consider whether to buy Russian crude following US sanctions waiver</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 13
Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping - AP News
Finance

Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxPTFp6S2dqMlZ0dzJTd01Pa3RaVXhzLUVDS1NTeVBYcXM2TWdhQ3hVNEpaTnp5U05aRk1GRU9yRERCZjVVVnhZMzhkV1Z6bDJjT2tNeHNMc0FzcllZdE1kOEhteHkxQVRfV3VDWGY4aWF1NWxZQURRSW9jQ2JoSEdCNTl2c3c3NGFBWHNva0tqOUoyeXZ3OERz?oc=5" target="_blank">Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as the Iran war impedes production and shipping</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 9
World shares are mixed as investors watch for release of oil reserves and crude heads higher - AP News
Finance

World shares are mixed as investors watch for release of oil reserves and crude heads higher - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxOaUtKTFhnN0lka1hsbXpJWVBVZEZJRm5mSlZiQTBvRm14SlpuT2FhWGxqYkFnSGFQcEZMUEdURG1hdkNWbG9DdG9acEQzNHRMelJaZjE1a3dpYmo2ZkNiREpyajBialVDTE94QTI4X2I4TmZXOGdhd21tekM2VnR4VGxfeTdScFNXVm9GMV8yTzc1QWc?oc=5" target="_blank">World shares are mixed as investors watch for release of oil reserves and crude heads higher</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 11
Senate Democrats press for investigation into moves to ease Russia oil sanctions
Politics

Senate Democrats press for investigation into moves to ease Russia oil sanctions

Democratic senators are demanding answers after the Trump administration moved to ease sanctions on Russian oil reserves in an attempt to offset the impact of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on global oil supplies. The minority members on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs requested a congressional hearing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent by…

The HillMar 11
U.S. Eases Limits on Russian Energy as Oil Prices Soar
Global

U.S. Eases Limits on Russian Energy as Oil Prices Soar

The volatility in energy markets because of the war in Iran could not come at a better time for President Vladimir V. Putin.

New York TimesMar 10
Read Next
Judge blocks Trump administration's subpoenas against Fed Chair Powell
Politics

Judge blocks Trump administration's subpoenas against Fed Chair Powell

A federal judge blocked two grand jury subpoenas against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday. Chief Judge James Boasberg wrote that "the Government has offered no evidence whatsoever that Powell committed any crime other than displeasing the President."

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources