US President Donald Trump stated on October 8, 2026, that the US blockade of Iranian ports will remain in full force and effect to maintain economic pressure on Iran

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A U.S.-imposed oil blockade initiated in February 2026 has subjected Cuba to fuel shortages, severe economic hardship, and power grid blackouts

United Nations rights experts condemned the U.S. oil blockade on Cuba as a violation of international law

The joint military campaign by the United States and Israel against Iran has been ongoing since February 2026

Human rights advocates and United Nations experts condemned the U.S. economic and oil blockade on Cuba as an unlawful act of siege warfare that caused severe energy and human crises

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the U.S. war on Iran, ongoing since February, has caused at least 3,400 deaths and 33,000 injuries

An October 2026 AP-NORC poll found that seven in ten American voters believe the government should prioritize ending the U.S. war on Iran, ongoing since February

A September 2026 Fox News poll found that six in ten Americans oppose military action against Iran that has continued since February, and more than 70 percent believe Donald Trump lacks an end plan

U.S. officials stated that Iran increased attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz to raise global oil prices and pressure President Donald Trump before U.S. midterm elections.

The White House ordered U.S. Central Command to pause military strikes against Iranian anti-ship missile launchers and drone positions near the Strait of Hormuz to avoid escalation before U.S. midterm elections.

U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Treasury Department froze approximately $350 million in Iranian cryptocurrency assets in October 2026.

The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a warning to financial institutions regarding potential Iranian regime misuse and diversion of religious tithes called khums.

The U.S. naval blockade has cost Iran an estimated $25 billion in lost crude oil export revenue since the war began.

On October 16, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order waiving new sanctions and tariffs provided for under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was enacted by Congress to impose tariffs on major foreign purchasers of Russian energy and entities assisting Russia in evading sanctions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on October 17, 2026, that Russian diesel would have been sold regardless of U.S. intervention and that the 60-day sanctions pause allows evaluation of economic impacts.

The Trump administration authorized certain transactions involving Russian diesel on October 9, 2026, to allow Russia to supply diesel to U.S. and global markets.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on October 18, 2026, that no sanctions were lifted on Russia and that only the diesel embargo was lifted during a 60-day examination period.

Senators Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, and Ted Cruz publicly criticized President Donald Trump's Russia sanctions waiver, with Tillis calling it beyond irresponsible and Cruz calling it a mistake.

President Donald Trump's executive order waiving Graham Act provisions avoids imposing secondary tariffs and sanctions on major buyers of Russian energy, including China and India.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited 2025 U.S. sanctions against Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil to assert that no administration has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump's.