Bessent says US May Lift Sanctions on Iranian Oil Stuck at Sea

Friday, March 20, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said early Thursday that the U.S. may lift sanctions on Iranian oil that is already in transit ...

Posted by jpw at 05:32 PM | 15 COMMENTS | permalink

After un-sanctioning Russian oil (much to Putin's delight) -- Bessent now says Trump is UN-sanctioning Iranian oil to "use it against them" A damn circus

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-- The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) Mar 19, 2026 at 9:34 AM

Comments

More from the cited article ...

... "That's about 10 days to two weeks of supply that the Iranians had been pushing out that would have all gone to China," he said. "In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down for the next 10 or 14 days as we continue this campaign." ...

Democratic Sen. Andy Kim (N.J.), the ranking member on the Senate Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance, criticized the suggested move on Thursday.

"Trump is actively putting more money into the pockets of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and the Iranian regime, but taking away money from American families with higher gas and grocery prices," he wrote on social platform X, adding, "What an absolute mess." ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-19 02:02 PM

COMPLETE FAILURE

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-03-19 02:09 PM

@#1 ... the next 10 or 14 days as we continue this campaign ...

So, another two weeks of Pres Trump's Iran War?

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-19 02:14 PM

In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians

So what they plan to do is steal it, not de-sanction it?

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-03-19 02:16 PM

TACO in action...

Complete Surrender,years of sanctions in "peacetime", now an easing of sanctions during a Shooting War?

You can't make this ---- Up.

Trump is a ------- Idiot.

#5 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-03-19 02:25 PM

may lift sanctions on Iranian oil

Because probably on Chinese flagged vessels..

So what they plan to do is steal it, not de-sanction it?

Unlikely.

So, another two weeks of Pres Trump's Iran War?
#3 | POSTED BY LAMPLIGHTER

You only seeing one war at a time, one dimension, this why you're called Gaslighter.

#6 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-19 02:46 PM

@#3 ... So, another two weeks of Pres Trump's Iran War? ...

According to Pres Trump, likely more than a couple of weeks.

Pres Trump delayed his China summit due to the Iran War.

The delay is for about a month. ( drudge.com )

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-19 03:32 PM

You only seeing one war at a time, one dimension, this why you're called Gaslighter.

#6 | Posted by oneironaut

Onelumpofs*&^ thinks he's got it all figured out.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2026-03-19 05:06 PM

TACO

#9 | Posted by bat4255 at 2026-03-20 05:44 PM

Credit where credit is due... it ain't easy to TACO on a war.

He's like, "really, they are fighting back? attacking other countries? closing the Straits? Vlad is giving them our targets? (love that guy!)... no one could have predicted any of that!".

#10 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-20 07:05 PM

The Trump clown car is in a ditch and those driving are gunning the motor after putting the car into neutral, while the occupants who got out of the car are pushing it deeper into the ditch. These people have no idea what they are doing, other than seeking a grift at every turn while gleefully putting soldiers, sailors and airmen at risk. They have no idea what the endgame of this mess looks like. God forbid the Iranian army fires some missiles into those long awaited Marine transport ships.

Meanwhile, release the Trump Epstein files ...

#11 | Posted by catdog at 2026-03-20 07:05 PM

Five D Chess.

#12 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-03-20 07:29 PM

Spokesperson of the Iran Ministry of Oil: "At present, Iran essentially has no crude oil left floating on water or surplus for supply in other international markets, and the statement by the US Treasury Secretary is merely aimed at giving hope to buyers and psychologically controlling the market."

~ Meidas Touch ~

#13 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-03-20 07:56 PM

Update: US removes sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil

#14 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-03-20 11:21 PM

Meanwhile ...

Iran said ready to allow Japanese vessels through Strait of Hormuz
www.jpost.com

... Iran is ready to let Japanese-related vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies, Kyodo news reported, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Tehran has started talks with Tokyo about possibly opening the Strait, Araghchi told the Japanese news agency in a phone interview on Friday.

Japan's foreign and trade ministries and the Prime Minister's Office did not pick up calls from Reuters on Saturday seeking comment on the report.

Japan gets around 90% of its oil shipments via the strait, which Tehran has largely closed during the US-Israeli war on Iran. A spike in global oil prices sparked by the war, which enters its fourth week on Saturday, has prompted Japan and other countries to release oil from their reserves. ...

#15 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-21 03:29 PM

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