Saudi Arabia claims US requested one-month delay to oil production cut

Alleged move by Biden administration came before mid-term elections in which petrol prices are key issue

Saudi Arabia has claimed it was pressured by the Biden administration to delay by a month a decision to cut oil production, a move that would have reduced the likelihood of an unpopular fuel price rise just before the US mid-term elections.

In its first remarks since the US president warned on Tuesday of consequences over the production cut, the Saudi foreign ministry said it rejected the overture and pressed on with the reduction.