The United States has launched an operation to seize a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, according to multiple U.S. media outlets. The vessel, which recently evaded a partial blockade around Venezuela, is believed to be part of a “shadow fleet” that has transported oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. U.S. officials have been tracking the tanker as it approached Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
The move follows Russia’s deployment of a submarine to escort the empty tanker, which the United States has been pursuing for weeks. The ship previously foiled a U.S. Coast Guard boarding attempt late last month as it neared Venezuela. Russia’s foreign ministry expressed concern over the U.S. pursuit, noting that the vessel sails under the Russian flag and is far from U.S. waters, and described the attention from the U.S. and NATO as “disproportionate to its peaceful status.”
The tanker, now registered in Russia and renamed Marinera, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2024 due to alleged links to Iran and Hezbollah. This development is part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on sanctioned oil tankers operating to and from Venezuela. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted another Venezuela‑linked tanker in Latin American waters, according to Reuters.
Trump has announced that Venezuela will hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States following a raid that removed the country’s anti‑American president. The new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has not publicly confirmed whether she has agreed to the handover or how it would be implemented. The U.S. special‑forces raid on President Nicolás Maduro’s government has led to a significant shift in Venezuela’s leadership, with Trump stating that the United States will “run” Venezuela and that U.S. companies will control its oil.
The seizure of the Russian‑flagged tanker marks a significant escalation in U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions on Venezuela and its allies, highlighting ongoing tensions between the United States and Russia and the complexities of international oil trade and sanctions enforcement. As the situation unfolds, it remains uncertain how the United States and other nations will respond.
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