On 20 April, the US Department of Justice asked for the cargo of Pegas to be frozen because the sale's revenues will be used to fund terrorism.[1] The US request was based on the sanctions imposed on Iran when the Trump administration decided to withdraw the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018. The EU and its member states, however, continued to be committed.[2] It was unclear whether the cargo was seized because it was Iranian oil or because the tanker was subject to sanctions because of its connections to Russia. US sanctions are separate for Iran and Russia.[6]