Oil tumbles as Trump’s Russia sanctions waiver may lead to more fuel supplies

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Oil prices slipped on Monday after US President Donald Trump waived sanctions and tariffs on Russia, which may lead to more Russian fuel exports.Brent crude futures fell $1.94, or 1.77%, to $107.92 a barrel by 0227 GMT after settling at its highest since May 19 on Friday.US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $100.58 a ​barrel, down 83 cents, or 0.82%, after closing at its highest since September 17 on Friday.Trump ​signed an executive order on Friday waiving key sanctions and tariffs under the law ⁠known as the Graham Act, which he signed last month at the urging of lawmakers who wanted to pressure ​Moscow over its war in Ukraine.However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the president will use up to ​60 days to assess the economic impact of the sanctions and tariffs on the global economy.The move comes after Trump struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to export diesel to the United States and other countries — starting at about 2.3 million barrels this month and rising to about 7.6 million barrels per month, according to Trump’s announcement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ​said these US actions will hurt Ukraine.Brent crude oil briefly touched $110 a barrel on Friday for the first time since ‌May as ⁠tensions and security threats in the Middle East raised concerns over the safety of shipping and tighter global energy supplies.“The combination of a softer tone around sanctions and some profit-taking after recent gains is helping to cap the upside in the near term,” KCM Trade chief analyst Tim Waterer said.While the US waiver on Russian sanctions ​could lead to higher Russian fuel exports, the mixed messaging has created uncertainty, he added.“Until the details and duration are clearer, the market is unlikely to fully price in ​a sustained increase in supply,” he said.Intensified attacks on commercial vessels cut Gulf crude flows sharply to about 8.5 million barrels per day on a seven-day average last week, from more than 20 million bpd the week before, analytics firm Kpler said in a note on Friday. At least 10 confirmed incidents ⁠involving commercial ​vessels were reported last week, it added.Potentially raising the stakes ​in the Middle East war, Egypt said it is ready to provide Saudi Arabia with the support it needs to defend its security ​and stability against Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis.