Washington opposes the proposal of the G-7 countries to reduce the ceiling on the prices of Russian oil, Bloomberg reported, citing its sources.
European countries hope that at the G-7 summit in Canada they will be able to reach an agreement on reducing the price ceiling, but the US position puts their plan at risk. According to one of the publication's interlocutors, the European Union and Britain may consider reducing the price ceiling for Russian oil without the participation of the United States, but this will not be as effective as the unanimous approval of this step by all G-7 countries.
Although Washington has not yet made a final decision, there are no indications that the United States intends to change its mind on this issue, Bloomberg concludes.
Earlier, the European Commission proposed reducing the oil price ceiling for Russia from $60 to $45 per barrel. EC President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU intends to negotiate this measure with the G-7 countries.
On December 5, 2022, the EU embargo on oil supplies by sea from Russia came into force. The G7 countries, the EU and Australia have imposed a price cap on Russian seaborne oil of $60 per barrel for their ships and territories. From February 5, 2023, similar restrictions will apply to imports of oil products from Russia.
World oil prices are expected to rise to $110-130 per barrel if Iran and Yemen's Houthis try to block the straits in the Middle East, Russian MP Alexei Pushkov said.
He noted that Iranian TV channels are reporting the possibility of Iran blocking the Gulf of Hormuz and the Houthis blocking the Bad el-Mandeb Strait.
"If this happens, the world oil market will be destabilized and oil prices will rise sharply. Even partial disruptions to oil supplies through the Persian Gulf in the event of a war would lead to a significant increase in world oil prices - according to forecasts, up to $110 or even $130 per barrel," the politician wrote on his Telegram channel.
The price of crude oil on international markets rose by 7% yesterday to $74 per barrel, a sharp increase amid investor concerns about the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that he and his team are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and its impact on global energy supplies, together with the White House National Security Council, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Wright wrote in Ex after the Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and Tehran's response that President Donald Trump's policy of maximizing the US oil and gas production, which includes easing regulations against environmental pollution, has strengthened the energy security of the United States.
According to analysts, the Israeli strikes on Iran, which is a member of OPEC, did not affect oil and gas facilities.
It is possible that in the coming days in the United States the price of gasoline will increase by about 20 cents, but this will most likely be due to the beginning of the summer vacation season, when people go on vacation and drive more. However, all these factors could create "economic pressure and political problems for Trump, who promised in his election campaign to reduce energy prices", says an analysis by the consulting company ClearView Energy to its clients.