Reuters · October 15, 2026

U.S. Official: Administration Considering Easing Sanctions on Shadow Fleet Vessels for Non-Sanctioned Oil Shipments

• The Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on shadow fleet vessels that have transported oil and petroleum products from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela, in an effort to reduce global freight rates, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.
• The talks center on allowing crude and petroleum products not sanctioned by Washington to move on previously sanctioned vessels, the official said; the official said the goal is to get more refined products and crude out of the Gulf.
• Companies seeking to use the vessels would have to apply to the U.S. Treasury Department, the official said.
• U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a video to the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh this week that the administration was talking about easing the sanctions, according to Energy Aspects, cited in the report; Reuters said it was not able to obtain the full video or a transcript, and the Department of Energy said it was not available.
• The Department of Energy said any move to relieve sanctions on the shadow fleet would not help Russia to move oil or oil products; the Treasury Department referred questions to the Department of Energy, and the White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment, according to the report.
• Energy Aspects said in a note to clients that easing the sanctions would not greatly impact freight rates but could allow more movement of oil in the Middle East, according to the report; maritime industry sources said ship insurers would still be bound by EU and UK regulations, according to the report.

Statements via a U.S. official, the Department of Energy and Energy Aspects, cited in the original report. Original headline: "US considers easing sanctions on shadow fleet vessels to cut freight rates, official says".