US Considers Easing Curbs on Iranian Oil in Transit to Stabilize Prices 📈

The US Treasury is exploring tactical measures to curb surging energy prices driven by Middle East volatility, focusing on immediate supply relief. • Global Energy Impact: Authorities may ease sanctions on approximately 140 million barrels of Iranian oil currently at sea. This volume represents roughly two weeks of global supply. • Strategic Reserves: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that additional releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) remain an option to stabilize the market. • Policy Scope: Officials clarified that broader long-term sanctions on Iranian oil and gas exports are not under review; the focus is strictly on "in-transit" volumes to lower immediate fuel costs for consumers. • Economic Context: This move aims to prevent energy price spikes from fueling broader inflation, a critical factor for global logistics and manufacturing sectors, including Sri Lanka's energy import costs.