The Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on shadow fleet tankers that have moved oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela, aiming to bring down record-high global freight rates, a US official said Wednesday.

The plan under discussion would allow previously sanctioned vessels to carry "legal oil" — crude and petroleum products not themselves sanctioned by Washington. The goal, the official said, is to move more refined products and crude out of the Gulf. Carriers wanting to deploy those ships would have to apply to the US Treasury Department first.

What does the proposal actually change?

The talks come days after President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel fuel through April 7. That move drew sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European governments and some Republican senators, who called it a gift to Vladimir Putin that would fund Russia's war in Ukraine.

The Department of Energy said any relief on shadow fleet vessels would not help Russia move oil or oil products. The Treasury Department referred questions to Energy. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh this week that the administration was discussing easing tanker sanctions to cut record freight rates that have eaten into demand for US crude, according to Energy Aspects, a research group. Parts of his video remarks circulated on social media, but Reuters could not obtain the full video or a transcript. The Department of Energy said it was unavailable.

Trump's push to move Russian diesel to global markets quickly could pressure both departments to permit shipments on the sanctioned vessels, regardless of the formal policy line.

Why is the White House moving now?

Politics is tight. High oil and fuel prices pose a risk to Trump ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, where Republicans hope to hold both chambers of Congress.

The market backdrop is severe. Tanker rates have hit record highs as the wars in Iran and Ukraine stoked inflation and pushed US crude out of reach for Asian refiners, forcing them toward alternatives from the Middle East and Latin America.

Would sanctions relief actually cut rates?

Probably not much. Energy Aspects told clients that easing shadow fleet sanctions would not greatly move freight rates but could allow more oil movement in the Middle East.

• Most shadow fleet tankers are old and poorly maintained, so relief is "unlikely to add meaningful mainstream fleet capacity overnight."
• Most tankers sanctioned over Russian or Venezuelan links have been actively trading over the past three months anyway.
• Easing restrictions "could make a small number of additional tankers available for certain (Strait of) Hormuz shuttle runs" between Iran and Oman.

Maritime industry sources add another brake: ship insurers remain bound by EU and UK regulations, so a broad easing of freight rates is unlikely even if Washington lifts its measures.

For tanker owners, the calculus is straightforward. A few Hormuz shuttle cargoes may materialize. For shippers and refiners watching record rates, the White House gesture looks more like political signaling before November 3 than a capacity fix — and any durable rate relief will hinge on insurers and Western regulators, not on Treasury licenses alone.