Donald Trump says the United States will temporarily relax some oil-related sanctions as Washington moves to stabilise global energy supplies and prevent further spikes in fuel prices.

The announcement came during a news conference at Trump’s golf resort in Doral, Florida, where the US president indicated that the measures were aimed at ensuring adequate oil availability on the global market amid geopolitical tensions affecting supply routes.

Trump said oil prices had not surged as sharply as he had anticipated but warned that the administration was still prepared to intervene to keep markets stable.

“We have sanctions on some countries. We’re going to take those sanctions off till the Strait (of Hormuz) is up,” Trump said.

Although the president did not specify which countries would benefit from the temporary relief, the move follows a recent decision by Washington to grant a 30-day waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil cargoes already stranded at sea to India.

The waiver was intended to ease pressure on the international oil market as disruptions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz threaten the movement of crude shipments through the Gulf region.

The waterway, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, handling roughly a fifth of global oil trade. Disruptions to shipping there can quickly send crude prices soaring and trigger volatility in international energy markets.

Trump said the temporary easing of sanctions is part of a broader effort by the US government to keep oil flowing while tensions in the Middle East continue to affect global supply chains.

The White House has also been exploring additional measures to stabilise the market, including facilitating alternative crude shipments and maintaining sufficient global supply levels during the ongoing crisis.