US lawmakers introduced a bill Friday to block US President Donald Trump's deal with Moscow to release several hundred million barrels of diesel. The move reflects widespread opposition to any measures that would allow Russia to pad its war chest.
The continued exclusion of Russian diesel from global markets would force refineries elsewhere to boost oil processing to meet demand. Trump has since reiterated that Moscow will follow through with a diesel release. Persistent hostility around the Black Sea — including a recent strike on Russia's Ryazan oil refinery that led to a suspension of operations, Reuters reported — amplified doubts that the deal would come to pass.Crude is up more than 70% this year as the wars in the Middle East and Russia disrupt supplies. Physical markets continue to signal tightness as refined products such as diesel have rallied even harder, with European futures for the commodity up more than twofold this year.Analysts are closely watching developments in the Persian Gulf for any signs the conflict is worsening. Trump declined to rule out using a weapon known as the “Mother of all Bombs” on Iran after the Nov. 3 election, according to an interview with Newsmax. CNN reported earlier this week that the US has developed strike plans that could include using a large-yield bomb known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb.
“The conflict is likely to escalate,” Eurasia Group analysts wrote in a note, raising their odds of intensification to 65% from 35%. “The standoff status quo is no longer sustainable for the US.”Source: Network18

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