U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil flows from the Gulf region have recovered to approximately 80% of their pre-war levels, according to remarks he made in an interview with Fox News.
Wright also said President Donald Trump would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon during his presidency or leave the issue unresolved for his successor. He added that Trump’s decisions regarding Iranian threats were not driven by electoral considerations.
US in Talks with Europe Over Diesel Supplies
Regarding the diesel shortage, the U.S. energy secretary said Washington was negotiating with European countries to release substantial volumes of fuel from their reserves, but described their response as slow.
Wright added that any easing of restrictions on Russian exports would be limited to diesel fuel.
On October 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump reportedly reached an agreement concerning the supply of Russian diesel to global markets. The U.S. Treasury Department subsequently issued a general license permitting purchases of Russian diesel through April 7 of next year.
Wright had previously said that greater reliance on alternative pipeline routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz had helped stabilize supplies and safeguard global trade. He argued that Washington had succeeded in limiting Tehran’s ability to use the threat of closing the strait as a means of exerting economic pressure.
