Iranian state-linked media is reporting that the United States has agreed to temporarily lift sanctions on Iran’s oil exports while the two countries negotiate. The key words there: “if true.”
The claimed waiver would only last for the duration of ongoing talks, not permanently. Iranian sources also assert that Washington may unfreeze roughly 25% of Iran’s blocked funds on a phased schedule.
None of this has been confirmed by US officials. And the timing is curious, given that the US State Department has been actively announcing new sanctions against Iran’s oil trade as recently as late April and early May 2025.
What Iran is saying, and what Washington isn’t
The negotiations are reportedly being mediated by Pakistan, with Iran’s nuclear program and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz serving as the central sticking points. Iranian media frames the proposed waiver as a good-faith gesture from Washington, a temporary olive branch designed to keep talks moving forward.
