US President Donald Trump has warned that his administration will soon make a major announcement regarding diesel fuel, at a time when the war with Iran and disruptions to shipping are putting pressure on global energy markets.
During a White House event to celebrate Columbus Day, Trump said the US government was preparing measures for the sector, but did not provide specific details on their content. He praised Energy Secretary Chris Wright, whom he described as “the best energy man in the country,” hinting that the administration is considering new steps to deal with the situation.
"We're going to have a big announcement regarding diesel," Trump declared, adding that the government will intervene strongly to address the issue.
"We are going to hit this issue hard," said the American president, without providing further details on the measures expected to be announced.
Trump also predicted a significant drop in prices, claiming that the situation will end soon, one way or another.
"Prices will drop significantly and this will end soon, one way or another," he said.
During his speech, the American president claimed that 28 million barrels of oil had been "pulled out" the day before, an amount that, according to him, constitutes a record even compared to the period before the war began.
"Yesterday we took out 28 million barrels. I think we took out more than we ever took out before, including before the war," Trump declared, without giving further details about the origin of the oil or how this transport was carried out.
The situation in energy markets has been significantly affected by the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, which began on February 28. Following the US and Israeli attacks, Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks in the region, while the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic corridor for the transport of oil and gas, was practically closed to commercial traffic.
The disruption of shipping on this sea route has added to concerns about global energy supplies and put pressure on prices. Diesel, widely used in freight transport, agriculture and industry, is particularly important to the economy, as changes in its price can directly affect the costs of transport and consumer products.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yet to produce a lasting solution. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June, after mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, with the aim of halting hostilities and paving the way for negotiations.
However, implementation of the agreement has stalled due to disagreements between the parties, including issues of security and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
In this context, Trump's announcement on diesel is expected to attract the attention of markets and sectors that depend on this fuel. It remains to be seen what measures the US administration will announce and whether they will have the effect of reducing prices, as the president has promised.
