The United States has launched an operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after the vessel evaded a partial US blockade around Venezuela, according to multiple American media reports on Wednesday.
US officials said the tanker is part of a so-called “shadow fleet” accused of transporting oil for sanctioned countries including Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of US restrictions. Vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the ship approaching Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
The operation was first reported by Reuters, citing two US officials. It follows weeks of pursuit by US authorities and comes amid reports that Russia deployed a submarine to escort the tanker, which was said to be empty at the time.
Late last month, the tanker allegedly avoided an attempt by the US Coast Guard to board it as it neared Venezuelan waters.
Russia’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said it was closely monitoring the situation, describing the US pursuit as a cause for concern. The ministry told state media that the ship was sailing under the Russian flag and operating far from US territorial waters.
“For reasons unclear to us, the Russian vessel is receiving heightened attention from the US and NATO militaries — attention that is clearly disproportionate to its peaceful status,” the ministry said.
Venezuelan Oil Crackdown
Since coming under pursuit, the tanker reportedly changed its registration to Russia, adopted a new name — Marinera — and had a Russian flag painted on its hull. US authorities say the vessel had been heading toward Venezuela before slipping past the blockade, though it was not carrying cargo at the time.
The ship has been under US sanctions since 2024 over alleged links to Iran and Hezbollah.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia deployed “a submarine and other naval assets” to escort the tanker, citing unnamed US officials. Reuters also reported that the US Coast Guard separately intercepted another tanker linked to Venezuela in Latin American waters.
The developments come as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on sanctioned oil shipments tied to Venezuela. Trump has claimed that Venezuela will hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States following a recent US operation that led to the removal of the country’s anti-American leadership.
However, it remains unclear whether Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has agreed to the oil transfer, how such a deal would be implemented, or what its legal basis would be.
Last Saturday, US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas and transported them to New York to face drug-related charges. Since then, Trump has stated that the United States will effectively “run” Venezuela, with US companies taking control of its oil sector.
