Trump Grants Waiver for Russian Oil Amid Iran War, Sparking Global Controversy

President Donald Trump has approved a 30-day waiver allowing countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil stranded at sea, aiming to offset the supply disruptions caused by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.

The decision comes as global energy markets face volatility, with oil prices surging due to reduced supplies from the Middle East. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged that the move could financially benefit Russia but defended it as necessary to stabilize international energy markets.

Strategic Petroleum Reserves and IEA Commitment

Washington is also set to release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, part of a broader commitment by the 32-member International Energy Agency (IEA) to release 400 million barrels globally.

The waiver affects approximately 100 million barrels of Russian crude, according to US presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who criticized European opposition to the measure. Dmitriev described further easing of restrictions on Russian energy as “increasingly inevitable” despite resistance from some Brussels officials.

Criticism and Geopolitical Fallout

Experts and activists have condemned the waiver as undermining Ukraine and Western sanctions on Russia.

• Roman Sheremeta, economics professor at Case Western Reserve University, called it “a backstabbing of Ukraine,” arguing the waiver strengthens Russia’s economy and military amid ongoing conflicts.
• Alexander Kirk, sanctions campaigner at Urgewald, warned that weakening sanctions sends a message to Moscow that “wait long enough and the West will blink.”

Critics stress that allowing additional Russian oil onto the market could refill the Kremlin’s war chest, potentially funding more missiles and drones, and undermining US foreign policy and European security.

The move has sparked intense debate over the balance between energy market stability and geopolitical strategy, with both economic and military consequences for the ongoing Iran conflict.