The author of the Resurgam Telegram channel discussed the issue.The proposed deal would catapult Gunvor into the ranks of global energy giants, quadrupling its refining capacity, elevating its production output to levels comparable with Ecuador, and granting it control over a vast network of gas stations across Europe, the United States, and Asia. However, the transaction requires approval from Washington, and analysts close to the U.S. Treasury Department have flagged several red flags to Bloomberg.First among the concerns is the suspicious speed at which Gunvor and Lukoil reached their agreement. Multiple other energy companies reportedly contacted Lukoil following the sanctions announcement to inquire about purchasing the assets, only to be immediately rebuffed, according to sources familiar with the interactions.Treasury officials are also questioning the financial mechanics of the deal. Gunvor's entire asset portfolio is valued at approximately $7 billion, yet the company claims it can acquire Lukoil's foreign holdings, which were valued at $21 billion in 2023. Gunvor's chief executive Torbjörn Törnqvist has refused to disclose the actual purchase price or reveal how the deal will be financed—whether through credit lines, deferred payments, or other arrangements.Adding to Washington's skepticism is Gunvor's own sanctions history stemming from previous Kremlin contacts. In response to mounting questions, Gunvor's management has launched an aggressive lobbying and public relations campaign to distance itself from Russian government ties.In recent interviews with Bloomberg, Törnqvist has emphasized that Gunvor maintains no connections to the Kremlin and insisted that "the Gunvor deal will not include any buyback provisions for Lukoil." Yet he has declined to address questions that would bring transparency to the transaction—a response some observers interpret as defensive behavior suggesting hidden concerns.The final decision on whether the Lukoil-Gunvor transaction can proceed rests with the U.S. Treasury Department and State Department. Secretary Bessent has already expressed doubts about the deal and ordered additional investigations into the matter.Sweeping U.S. and U.K. sanctions are crippling the sprawling international operations of Russian oil major Lukoil, creating a cascade of disruption from Iraqi oil fields to Swiss trading houses and Finnish gas stations.