Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

President Trump determined that global petroleum supplies are sufficient to allow significant reductions in Iranian oil purchases, as required by the 2012 NDAA sanctions framework. However, he simultaneously announced the U.S. would not actively pursue reducing Iran's crude oil sales at that time, consistent with JCPOA commitments and pending an Iran policy review.

Federal Register Open PDF 82 FR 28391

Key directives

Determination that global petroleum supply is sufficient to permit significant reduction in Iranian oil purchases
Direction that U.S. is not pursuing efforts to reduce Iran's crude oil sales at this time
Authorization for Secretary of State to publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Determination takes effect upon signing
U.S. holds off on reducing Iran oil sales

Near term (90d)

Ongoing Iran policy review by Administration
Continued monitoring of global petroleum supply conditions

Long term

Potential future shift in Iran oil sanctions policy after policy review completes

Risks & tensions

Tension between statutory sanctions framework (NDAA 2012) and JCPOA commitments
Uncertainty about duration of policy review and future enforcement posture
Potential market uncertainty from mixed signal of sufficient supply finding paired with non-enforcement
Vague 'at this time' language creates indeterminate policy horizon