An administration official said Wednesday the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on so-called 'shadow fleet' vessels that previously carried oil and petroleum products from Russia, Iran and Venezuela, aiming to reduce global shipping rates, which remain at historic highs. The official said discussions focus on whether to allow previously sanctioned ships to transport 'legitimate oil'—crude or products not subject to U.S. sanctions, explicitly excluding sanctioned Russian or Iranian cargoes—to push more crude and refined flows out of the Gulf region. The move follows Trump’s recent temporary waiver of sanctions on Russian diesel, a decision criticized by Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, several European governments and some Republican senators. 14-OCT-2026 08:23 PM ET