Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday that Riyadh would work closely with other oil producers to guarantee an adequate crude supply and a balanced market in wake of the US decision to no longer provide waivers granted to buyers of Iranian oil.
"Saudi Arabia will coordinate with fellow oil producers to ensure adequate supplies are available to consumers while ensuring the global oil market does not go out of balance", he said in a statement.
The Trump White House announced earlier in the day that in May, it will end all waivers granted to eight economies that have allowed them to bypass US sanctions and purchase Iranian oil.
"President Donald J. Trump has decided not to reissue Significant Reduction Exceptions (SREs) when they expire in early May. This decision is intended to bring Iran's oil exports to zero, denying the regime its principal source of revenue", the statement said.
In addition, Washington announced that the US, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would ensure that the global oil market would remain "adequately supplied".
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The three nations "have agreed to take timely action to assure that global demand is met as all Iranian oil is removed from the market", the White House said in a statement, which was later reiterated by US President Donald Trump, who confirmed that Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members would "make up" for oil supply once the waivers are terminated.
Saudi Arabia and others in OPEC will more than make up the Oil Flow difference in our now Full Sanctions on Iranian Oil. Iran is being given VERY BAD advice by @JohnKerry and people who helped him lead the U.S. into the very bad Iran Nuclear Deal. Big violation of Logan Act?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 22 апреля 2019 г.
In light of Washington's decision, oil prices have surged, reaching their highest in 2019: Internatonal benchmark Brent increased 2.6 percent to $73.87 a barrel, the highest since early November, while US crude futures rose 2.4 percent to $65.52.
Having decided to reinstate all sanctions and impose a new set of restrictions on Iran's energy, shipping, financial, and other sectors, Trump pledged to cut the country's oil exports to zero. He also pledged to introduce secondary sanctions on foreign companies doing business with Iran, which drew much criticism from other signatories to the so-called Iran nuclear deal.
Washington provided waivers to eight economies, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Taiwan, who agreed to reduce their purchases of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue buying it without facing sanctions for six more months.
