Sanctions Pressure Index — May 2026: 65.1

Sanctions pressure hit its highest point of the month on May 4 after the U.S. warned China over Iranian oil sales amid an intensifying sanctions fight. Tension also rose as the U.S. imposed new sanctions on an Iranian agency trying to control Strait of Hormuz shipping and targeted Iran's military oil sales, while Britain eased sanctions on Russian oil due to surging fuel prices. Things calmed down later in the month following a proposed European Commission sanctions reprieve for dealings with a Chinese chips firm and a frail Trump-Xi truce. Tensions dropped to their lowest point on May 29, leaving the Sanctions Pressure Index at a monthly average of 65.1.

Scores in this month were computed by the first-generation engine (v1).

Peak 71 on 2026-05-04 · low 58 on 2026-05-29 · locked record · ← April · Sanctions Pressure Index timeline · June → · World Tension, same month

• Ukraine ally Britain eases new sanctions on Russian oil as fuel prices surge over Iran war NBC News · 2026-05-20
• US imposes sanctions on Iranian agency trying to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz apnews.com · 2026-05-27
• U.S. Sanctions Spur China Toward New Financial System China-US Focus · 2026-05-19
• U.S. Warns China Over Iranian Oil as Sanctions Fight Intensifies The New York Times · 2026-05-04
• US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran's military oil sales, Treasury says reuters.com · 2026-05-29
• Spies, Sanctions, Cyberattacks: China and the U.S. Clash Behind the Scenes The New York Times · 2026-05-15
• Sanctions Towards Russia Are Not a Strategy Just Security · 2026-05-21
• Cuba warns of ‘bloodbath’ as US imposes new sanctions amid rising tensions France 24 · 2026-05-19

• European Commission proposes Russia sanctions reprieve for dealings with Chinese chips firm
• Frail Trump-Xi Truce Highlighted by Pentagon’s Botched Blacklist