# Oil Futures Fall as U.S. Weighs Letting Sanctioned Tankers Carry Permitted Oil By Riza Dagoc Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/32302 Published: 2026-10-15T05:50:13.000Z Updated: 2026-10-15T05:50:13.000Z Section: Regulation > The proposal would cover cargoes allowed under U.S. sanctions, but companies would need Treasury approval to use the vessels. Oil futures fell late Wednesday as the Trump administration weighed allowing some previously sanctioned tankers to carry cargoes permitted under U.S. rules, seeking to lower shipping costs amid risks to Gulf supplies. At 11:37 p.m. ET Wednesday (03:37 UTC Thursday), Brent crude futures were down $1.64, or 1.6%, at $104.42 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell 98 cents, or 1%, to $94.11. WTI had reached a three-week high in the prior session amid attacks on shipping and rising tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. Under the option being discussed, some vessels with prior sanctions could carry crude and petroleum products that U.S. rules allow. Companies would need Treasury Department approval to use a vessel. The proposal concerns which ships may transport permitted cargo; it would not lift U.S. bans on Russian or Iranian oil. The effect on freight rates may be modest. Many tankers sanctioned over Russian or Venezuelan links had continued operating in recent months, while European Union and U.K. insurance restrictions could limit broader rate declines. Some vessels might still become available for short trips through the Strait of Hormuz. Gulf producers exported 13.9 million barrels of crude per day in September, a daily rate 4.4 million barrels above the earlier level and more than three-quarters of the pre-war rate. The debate follows Treasury’s [Oct. 8 action against 17 shadow fleet vessels]() over Iranian petroleum and petrochemical shipments. The tanker proposal remains under consideration. ## Links in this article - [Oct. 8 action against 17 shadow fleet vessels](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/28695)