In a significant clarification of its sanctions policy, the United States Treasury Department issued an amended general license on Thursday, explicitly excluding shipments to Cuba and North Korea from its temporary sanctions relief on Russian oil transported by sea. The revised directive maintains the authorization for the sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that were loaded onto vessels prior to 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on March 12, permitting these transactions until April 11. This measure was initially enacted to mitigate soaring global energy prices exacerbated by regional conflict. However, the updated license explicitly prohibits any such transactions involving the adversarial nations of Cuba and North Korea, broadening the original exception which solely pertained to Iran to also include certain Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. This development occurs amidst reports from maritime intelligence firms Windward and Kpler that at least two Russian tankers, one carrying diesel and another carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil, are currently en route to Cuba using deceptive navigation tactics. Their potential arrival would mark the first delivery of fuel to the island since early January, following a stringent US blockade that has triggered a severe economic crisis and widespread blackouts.