The United States did not extend a sanctions exemption that had allowed the sale of some Russian oil, stepping back from a contentious plan to try and contain global crude prices that was also providing an economic windfall to Moscow.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker also says passage through waterway will depend on authorisation from Iran

The Russian tanker Universal, linked to the so-called "shadow fleet," was detected sailing in the North Atlantic heading west toward Cuba.

As part of the reduction of Russia's military and economic potential, on the night of April 18, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces hit four important facilities of the Russian oil refining industry.

Russia will continue helping fuel-hungry Cuba with crucial supplies of oil, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, two weeks after Moscow sent a tanker with ​around 700,000 barrels of crude to the Caribbean island.

The surge in revenue provided a critical lifeline for Moscow, which has struggled to fund the war in Ukraine amid record-high deficits.

Russia has pledged to continue its vital oil supplies to Cuba, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, following a recent delivery of approximately 700,000 barrels. Cuba is experiencing acute energy shortages after the US halted oil exports from its main ally, Venezuela, and Mexico also ceased its shipments.

"With the goal of lowering the enemy's advance capabilities, we are maintaining a high strike intensity on military, defense industry, and other facilities on Russian territory that sustain the occupier's activities,