US mulls 'unsanctioning” Iranian oil as Middle East conflict drives energy prices surge

US considers unsanctioning Iranian oil shipments

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Washington might consider lifting sanctions on Iranian oil that is already being shipped, as energy prices surge due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The deliberation comes as the US seeks to ease soaring energy costs, which are being felt by American consumers. A Trump administration official, however, stressed that "oil and gas export restrictions are not under consideration."

Analysts have cautioned that easing sanctions could benefit Tehran, which has been targeted by US-Israeli attacks. Some observers, though, view it as a potential step to encourage allies to join a coalition aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to Fox Business on Thursday, Bessent noted that oil and gas prices surged again after Iran struck the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar and threatened the region’s energy infrastructure. He added that the US government could also release additional oil from its strategic reserves to help contain costs.

Energy prices have jumped sharply since US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February prompted Tehran’s retaliation, which effectively brought commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill. The disruption has snarled energy supply chains, placing added pressure on US consumers.

Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the critical waterway during peacetime.

Already, international benchmark Brent surged 10 percent earlier before easing to a 3.1 percent increase at $110.67 per barrel.

US gasoline prices have also jumped since the war started.

Bessent estimated Thursday that there are around 140 million barrels of Iranian oil on the water, or about two weeks of supply that would have gone to China.

The aim is to use the Iranian barrels against Tehran as Washington seeks to contain price hikes, he said.

The optics of easing Iranian sanctions appears contradictory at face value, said Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates.

"It would appear that we're allowing Iran to sell their oil at the same time that we're at war with them," he added.

With global daily oil demand exceeding 100 million barrels, the easing would also free up just 1.5 days' worth of supply internationally, said Philip Luck of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

"If they're thinking about changing prices here in the United States, that's just not going to happen," he told AFP.

But he added that the move could bring minor relief to US allies and partners in Asia.

Rather than lowering costs directly, ING economist James Knightley believes the lifting of sanctions could instead be an indication that Washington wants to work with partners to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has previously sought to appeal to France, Japan, China, Britain and South Korea to join in such an effort, he noted.

It "looks like a bit of a negotiating tactic to try and get the Chinese on their side, to bolster this idea behind a naval coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz," Knightley told AFP.

Even if the sanctions lifting could "seem counterproductive," Washington might find it "worth the cost" if it helped get China to exert some pressure on Iran, he said.

A removal of certain Iranian oil sanctions would add to Washington's latest moves to curb energy price hikes.

Earlier this month, the United States also temporarily allowed the sale of sanctioned Russian oil that is at sea.

On Wednesday, Trump waived a century-old maritime shipping law for 60 days, in an attempt to help ease energy prices.

(With AFP inputs)