The actions reinforce Washington’s pressure on Tehran after the beginning of the naval blockade
The United States said it was temporary sanctions on Iranian oil and at the same time intercepted 2 oil tankers trying to leave the country. The actions reinforce Washington’s pressure on Tehran after the beginning of a naval blockade and in the face of the impasse in negotiations to end the war.
The Treasury Department reported this Tuesday (April 14, 2026) that the emergency authorization for the sale of Iranian oil, created to alleviate the impact of the war, expires in the next few days and will not be extended. The measure allowed the sale of cargo that was already at sea before March 20th and was valid until April 19th.
In a statement, the Treasury said: “The Department is acting aggressively with ‘Economic Rage’ while maintaining maximum pressure on Iran”. He further said that “Financial institutions must be on alert” and that the US is ready to “employ the full range of available tools”including secondary sanctions against foreign entities that support Iranian activities. It also declared that the temporary authorization for the sale of Iranian oil “expires in a few days and will not be renewed”.
The scenario worsened after Iran restricted the transit of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which around 20% of the oil and gas consumed in the world passes. Despite a 2-week temporary ceasefire, recent negotiations in Pakistan have made no progress. After the standoff, Trump blocked Iranian ports.
In the operational field, a US destroyer intercepted 2 oil tankers that were trying to leave Iran on Tuesday (14 April), already under the effect of the blockade, according to the agency. According to an American official, the ships had left the port of Chabahar, in the Gulf of Oman, and were instructed by radio to return.
The 2 ships are part of a group of 6 commercial vessels that, according to US Central Command, were ordered to turn around and return to Iranian ports. According to the military, no vessel has managed to overcome the blockage since the start of the operation, on Monday (April 13).
The operation involves more than 10,000 military personnel, as well as warships and aircraft. Experts believe that it is still too early to measure the effectiveness of the strategy. They also warn that the measure could provoke a reaction from Tehran and increase tension over the current ceasefire.
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