The United States did not extend a sanctions exemption that had allowed the sale of some Russian oil, stepping back from a contentious plan to try and contain global crude prices that was also providing an economic windfall to Moscow.

The Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil “stranded at sea” Thursday in an effort to contain skyrocketing energy prices due to Iranian threats against tanker ships.

The Trump administration has not extended the temporary US sanctions waiver that allowed the legal sale of Russian oil and petroleum products loaded on ships until March 12, Bloomberg reports. The measure expired on April 11.

Trump's announcement raises questions about U.S. plans to waive sanctions on Russian oil, after the temporary waiver officially expired April 11.

The Trump administration is lifting sanctions on Russian oil to counter Iran’s stranglehold on Middle Eastern energy. The U.

The war in Iran has shocked global energy markets by choking off oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration has responded frantically by temporarily unwinding its oil sanctions on Iran and Russia,

German chancellor says decision is wrong and that pressure on Putin over Ukraine war should be increased