US weighs easing sanctions on shadow fleet tankers to lower record freight rates
The Trump administration is discussing partially easing sanctions on shadow fleet tankers so "legal oil" can move out of the Gulf and freight rates fall, a US official told Reuters. Analysts and industry sources doubt it would greatly lower rates.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on so-called shadow fleet vessels that have carried oil and petroleum products from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela, a US official told Reuters on Wednesday. The Jerusalem PostRC “The Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on so-called shadow fleet vessels that have transported oil and petroleum products from countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ MeduzaLC “is discussing a partial easing of sanctions on the “shadow fleet” of tankers that transport oil from countries such as Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, Reuters reported.” Read at Meduza ↗ Mixed · 2The aim is to reduce record-high global freight rates and get more refined products and crude out of the Gulf. The Jerusalem PostRC “The goal is to get more refined products and crude out of the Gulf, the official said.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ MeduzaLC “allowing more oil and oil products to move out of the Persian Gulf.” Read at Meduza ↗ Mixed · 2Under the idea, previously sanctioned vessels could carry "legal oil", meaning crude or petroleum products not sanctioned by Washington, rather than Russian and Iranian oil, which remain under punitive measures; companies wanting to use the vessels would have to apply to the US Treasury Department. The Jerusalem PostRC “That means crude or petroleum products not sanctioned by Washington, rather than Russian and Iranian oil, which are under punitive measures.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ MeduzaLC “Those seeking to use “shadow fleet” vessels for that purpose would need permission from the U.S. Treasury Department.” Read at Meduza ↗
Right · 1Reuters said US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh in a video this week that the administration was discussing the step, according to the research group Energy Aspects; Reuters could not obtain the full video or a transcript. The Jerusalem PostRC “US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a video to the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh this week”“Reuters was not able to obtain the full video or a transcript.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The Department of Energy said any relief for the shadow fleet would not help Russia move oil or oil products, the Treasury Department referred questions to Energy, and the White House did not immediately respond to Reuters. The Jerusalem PostRC “The Department of Energy said any move to relieve sanctions on the shadow fleet would not help Russia to move oil or oil products.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ MeduzaLC “The White House did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.” Read at Meduza ↗ Mixed · 2The talks follow Trump's temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel, which Meduza dates to an October 9 announcement and Reuters says runs through April 7; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European countries and some Republican senators criticised it as a gift to Vladimir Putin. MeduzaLC “Donald Trump announced on October 9 that Russia and the U.S. had agreed to the supply of Russian diesel fuel to American and global markets.” Read at Meduza ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “He lifted the sanctions on Russian diesel through April 7.”“Both Zelenskiy and the US senators called that move a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Reuters noted that Trump's push to move Russian diesel quickly could pressure the departments to allow shipment on these vessels, and that high fuel prices are a risk for Republicans in the November 3 midterm elections. The Jerusalem PostRC “But Trump's push to move Russian diesel to global markets quickly could put pressure on the departments to allow shipment via the vessels.”“High oil and fuel prices are a risk for Trump in the November 3 midterm elections” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2Experts and industry sources doubt it would help much: Energy Aspects said lifting sanctions is unlikely to add meaningful fleet capacity quickly, since most sanctioned tankers have been trading, though it could free a few for Strait of Hormuz shuttle runs, and insurers remain bound by EU and UK rules. The Jerusalem PostRC “could make a small number of additional tankers available for certain (Strait of) Hormuz shuttle runs” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ MeduzaLC “Insurance companies, they said, will still have to comply with EU and U.K. law, which is not expected to ease restrictions on the “shadow fleet.”” Read at Meduza ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Short news item relaying the Reuters report: the White House is weighing a partial easing of shadow fleet sanctions, linked to the earlier Russian diesel relief.
- Emphasis
- Skepticism from experts that freight rates would fall; EU and UK insurance rules; the October 9 diesel announcement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Energy Secretary Wright's remarks, the Department of Energy's denial that Russia would benefit, the Ukrainian and Senate criticism, and the midterm-election angle.
- Charged language
- “shadow fleet”
- For example
-
“Experts polled by the agency said partially lifting sanctions on “shadow fleet” vessels is unlikely to lower freight rates.” — Meduza
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Full Reuters copy carried by the Jerusalem Post, placing the move in the context of the criticised Russian diesel waiver and US political pressure.
- Emphasis
- Backlash from Zelenskiy, Europe and Republican senators; the Energy Department's statement; midterm risk; Energy Aspects analysis.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Contains no commentary of its own beyond the agency text.
- Charged language
- “a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin”
- For example
-
“The discussions are happening days after President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- The US is discussing partially easing sanctions on shadow fleet tankers to lower record freight rates.
- Companies would need Treasury Department permission to use the vessels for non-sanctioned oil.
- The White House did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
- Experts and industry sources doubt freight rates would fall much because EU and UK rules still bind insurers.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether easing would benefit Russia
- Left
- Not addressed beyond noting Russian diesel sanctions were partly lifted.
- Right
- Reuters reports the Department of Energy said it would not help Russia move oil, while Zelenskiy and US senators called the earlier diesel waiver a gift to Putin.
Israel1 outlet
Carries the full Reuters report with political context on the diesel waiver and the midterms.
“High oil and fuel prices are a risk for Trump in the November 3 midterm elections” — The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
Europe1 outlet
Meduza gives a compact rewrite focused on the doubtful effect on freight rates.
“Experts polled by the agency said partially lifting sanctions on “shadow fleet” vessels is unlikely to lower freight rates.” — Meduza
Meduza
Left1 article
-
MeduzaLC ·
US weighs easing sanctions on ‘shadow fleet’ tankers
Neutral Meduza's brief rewrite of the Reuters report, stressing expert doubt that freight rates would fall.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
US considers easing sanctions on shadow fleet vessels to cut freight rates, official says
Neutral Reuters wire copy run by the Jerusalem Post, detailing the proposal, official denials, criticism of the diesel waiver and analyst doubts.
- 15 Oct 01:34 First The Jerusalem PostRC US considers easing sanctions on shadow fleet vessels to cut freight rates, official says
- 15 Oct 09:09 +7h 36m MeduzaLC US weighs easing sanctions on ‘shadow fleet’ tankers
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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