Russia to sign diesel contracts with US soon: senior official

Russia and the United States are expected to sign the first batch of contracts for diesel supply to the later in the coming days, said Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

He noted that the Russian side is maintaining active communication with the U.S. side and is consulting on how to implement the supply as soon as possible and resolve logistical issues.

Russia and the United States are holding talks on contracts for Russian diesel fuel supplies, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Russian Energy Week forum.

He said talks on making contracts are now underway between the Russian Energy Ministry and the U.S. Department of Energy. An instrument will be found there that will make it possible to support supplies.

He said that Russia is beginning to lift restrictions on diesel fuel exports ahead of previously planned deadlines, but that more time is needed to sign the contract and load the tanker before the first shipment of diesel is exported to the United States.

Putin said in an official statement on Friday that Russia is ready to supply oil and petroleum products to the United States and global markets following a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to Ukrainian media reports on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the energy deal between Russia and the United States made him feel betrayed and that Ukraine lost a strong partner, in an interview with a British media outlet.

Also on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten urged the U.S. side to rescind the diesel agreement during a parliamentary debate, saying that the agreement would harm Ukraine's interests and damage transatlantic relations.

He also said the agreement was inappropriate and logically flawed because it would fail to lower U.S. fuel prices before next month's U.S. midterm elections.

Iran has equipped its military with more advanced weaponry and is fully prepared to respond to any potential aggression, according to Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesman Hossein Mohebbi on Wednesday.

In an interview with a Tehran-based newspaper, the spokesman said that although initiating a new war against Iran would be irrational for the United States, the possibility remains, as the Trump administration needs an achievement to show before the midterm elections.

Iran is prepared to respond to any renewed aggression with greater force than before, and the consequences of such an action for the United States would be "more painful," said the spokesman.

Ali Azmaei, chief of the IRGC Navy, on Tuesday hit back at claims by the U.S. that the Strait of Hormuz is open and under Washington's control, saying Iran exercises "smart control" over the strait and requires vessels seeking to pass through the route to obtain authorization.