The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a new license permitting the supply and sale of Russian oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels as of April 17, 2026. This development is outlined in a document published on the OFAC website.
“The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury grants General License No. 134B ‘Regarding the Authorization for the Supply and Sale of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products of Russian Origin Loaded onto Vessels as of April 17, 2026,'” the announcement states.
The license will remain effective until 00:01 Eastern Daylight Time (07:01 Kyiv time) on May 16, 2026. OFAC clarified that the document also allows all operations typically required for the sale, transportation, and unloading of this crude oil or petroleum products.
- Operations for safe mooring and anchorage of vessels;
- Health and safety measures for crew members;
- Emergency repairs and environmental measures;
- Services related to vessel management, crew provisioning, bunkering, pilotage, registration, insurance, flagging, classification, and salvage operations.
This license applies to Russian crude produced by companies under sanctions in accordance with U.S. regulations regarding harmful foreign activities by Russia or sanctions related to Ukraine/Russia.
However, the license does not permit any operations involving individuals or companies associated with Iran, North Korea, or Cuba, nor with temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (as specified in Executive Orders E.O. 14065 and E.O. 13685, which refer to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea). Restrictions also extend to companies owned, controlled, or engaged in joint ventures with such individuals.
Additionally, any other operations subject to other U.S. executive orders are prohibited, including transactions involving Iran, its government, or goods and services of Iranian origin under sanctions regulations (31 CFR Part 560).
The U.S. Treasury's OFAC has issued a license allowing transactions involving Russian oil loaded onto vessels by April 2026, while maintaining strict restrictions on associated parties and regions. This move reflects ongoing regulatory measures in response to geopolitical tensions.