The Trump administration extended a sanctions waiver allowing Russian oil imports despite Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly stating hours earlier that the exemption would not be renewed. The move reflects pressure to stabilize global oil prices during the ongoing Iran war — high energy costs have been a political liability for the administration as it negotiates potential cease-fire terms with Iran. The contradiction between Bessent's public denial and Trump's actual policy decision underscores internal administration disagreement over sanctioning strategy amid wartime energy disruptions.