Iran Press/ Middle East: According to those familiar with the request, US officials had warned Saudi leaders that a cut would be viewed as a clear choice by Riyadh to side with Russia in the Ukraine war and that the move would weaken already-waning support in Washington for the kingdom, the report said.
US officials asked their counterparts in Saudi Arabia and other oil producers in the Persian Gulf region to delay the decision for another month, the report said.
Saudi officials instead thought the Biden administration wanted to buy crucial time before the US midterm elections on November 8, where an oil price spike could have a damning impact on Democrats in power, and said a "resounding no," the report added.
Beyond the refusal, the kingdom actually leaned on its OPEC allies, which include Russia, to approve the cut, which was announced on October 5 and aimed at reducing production by 2 million barrels per day.
Control of Congress could switch from the Democrats to the Republicans if oil prices, which have already raised US inflation to 40-year highs, continue to anger Americans.
Gasoline at US pumps hit a record high of $5 per gallon in mid-June before the Biden administration drew down about 150 million barrels from the country’s oil reserve to bring the price down to as low as $3.70 on the average mid-September.
However, the price has started climbing again over the past two weeks and could escalate with the OPEC+ production cuts.
The Journal report appeared as White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told CNN on Tuesday that the United States needs to reevaluate its relationship with Saudi Arabia.
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