A US official has flatly rejected claims from Iranian state media that Washington agreed to temporarily waive sanctions on Iran’s oil exports. The word used was unambiguous: “false.”

The denial landed quickly after Iranian outlets floated the idea that some kind of sanctions relief was on the table as part of ongoing negotiations between the two countries. It wasn’t. Or at least, that’s the official US position, and it came with a pointed reminder that any easing of sanctions would require reciprocal actions from Tehran.

What Iran claimed, and what Washington actually said

Iranian state media published reports suggesting the US had agreed to a temporary waiver on oil export sanctions. The US response was swift and direct. A US official stated that the claims were false and that no sanctions relief had been granted. The official emphasized that any future relief would be conditional on Iran taking reciprocal steps.

The US reimposed oil sanctions on Iran in 2018, and those measures have significantly reduced Iran’s crude exports since then.

Market sensitivity and enforcement reality

The brief window between Iran’s claim and the US denial was enough to stir movement in oil markets. Crude prices and risk-sensitive assets reacted to the initial reports before settling back after the denial.

Recent US enforcement actions have included targeting individuals accused of blending Iraqi and Iranian oil to circumvent sanctions. The US has also gone after Iraqi officials allegedly facilitating these schemes, signaling that Washington is not only maintaining its sanctions regime but actively expanding the scope of its crackdown on evasion networks.