President Donald Trump is facing bipartisan blowback after his administration temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil, a move that could allow Tehran to sell up to 140 million barrels now at sea and generate as much as $14 billion as oil prices surge during the U.S.-backed war against Iran, according to The New York Times. 

The Treasury Department issued a general license late Friday allowing Iranian oil loaded as of March 20 to be sold to most countries, including the United States, through April 19, the Times reported. The administration says the step is intended to increase crude supplies and ease pressure on energy prices, which have risen sharply since the conflict intensified. AAA data cited by the Times showed average U.S. gasoline prices at $3.95 a gallon, up from $2.94 a month ago.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the policy Sunday, saying the administration was “using their own oil against them” by trying to push more Iranian crude into the market. But the Times reported that administration officials have struggled to explain how the plan would stop Iran from profiting, especially because the license appears to contain no clear mechanism to block proceeds from reaching Iranian accounts.

Trump said Monday that any revenue Iran gained would be insignificant to the war effort and that he wanted as much oil as possible on the market, according to the report.

Read more at The New York Times