Trump is weighing plans to ease sanctions on Russia's 'shadow fleet' to cut diesel prices before midterms

President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions on Russian and Iranian shadow-fleet oil tankers in a bid to drive down record freight rates and reduce diesel prices before November's midterm elections. The administration is reportedly weighing allowing blacklisted vessels to be sold to 'legitimate' operators and re-enter global commerce on a case-by-case basis. Energy secretary Chris Wright floated the idea at the World Petroleum Congress on 12 October.

The plan reportedly would not 'fix freight overnight' because most sanctioned tankers are old and many have kept trading anyway.