The United States has initiated an operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, according to multiple US media outlets. The tanker, which evaded a partial blockade around Venezuela, is reportedly part of a “shadow fleet” that has carried oil for countries such as Venezuela, Russia, and Iran in violation of US sanctions.
US officials have been tracking the tanker, which was nearing Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday. The operation comes after Russia sent a submarine to escort the empty tanker, which the United States has been pursuing for weeks. The vessel had previously thwarted an attempt by the US Coast Guard to board it late last month as it neared Venezuela.
Russia’s foreign ministry has expressed concern over the US pursuit of the tanker, stating that the vessel is sailing under the Russian flag and is far from the US coast. The ministry described the US and NATO militaries’ attention to the tanker as “disproportionate to its peaceful status.”
The tanker, which has switched its registration to Russia and changed its name to the Marinera, has been under US sanctions since 2024 over alleged ties to Iran and Hezbollah. The developments are the latest in US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on sanctioned oil tankers going to and from Venezuela.
The US Coast Guard has also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker in Latin American waters, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Trump has announced that Venezuela will hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States, following a US raid that toppled the country’s anti-American president.
The new interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has not publicly confirmed whether she has agreed to hand over the oil or how the plan would work. The US special forces’ raid on President Nicolas Maduro’s government has led to a significant shift in the country’s leadership, with Trump stating that the United States will “run” Venezuela and US companies will control its oil.
The seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker marks a significant escalation in the US efforts to enforce sanctions on Venezuela and its allies. The operation highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and Russia, as well as the complexities of international oil trade and sanctions enforcement. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the US and other countries will respond to these developments.
