The United States has launched an operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after it managed to evade a partial blockade imposed near Venezuela, according to officials. The vessel, now renamed Marinera, reportedly switched its registration to Russia and displayed a Russian flag in an apparent attempt to avoid U.S. detection. It is part of what U.S. authorities describe as a “shadow fleet” of ships that have been transporting oil for countries under American sanctions, including Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.
Tracking data showed the tanker approaching Iceland’s exclusive economic zone, prompting heightened monitoring by U.S. naval forces. Sources said the operation follows a prior attempt by the U.S. Coast Guard to board the vessel late last month, which failed as the tanker was nearing Venezuelan waters. In response, Russia dispatched a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker, underscoring the geopolitical stakes in the increasingly tense pursuit.
The tanker was empty at the time of interception, but it remains subject to U.S. sanctions due to alleged ties to Iran and Hezbollah dating back to 2024. U.S. officials said the seizure is part of a broader effort to enforce sanctions and disrupt illegal oil shipments from sanctioned countries. Russia criticized the U.S. action, arguing that the tanker was operating under a legitimate flag and in international waters, and described the heightened military attention as disproportionate.
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The development comes just days after U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas, flying them to New York to face federal drug-trafficking charges. Since the raid, U.S. authorities, including President Donald Trump, have indicated plans to control Venezuelan oil exports and allow American companies to invest in and operate the country’s oil infrastructure. Trump has stated that tens of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil could be handed over to the United States under the interim government, though details on the logistics and legal framework remain unclear.
Analysts say the seizure highlights rising tensions over sanctioned oil, the growing role of naval forces in enforcing U.S. sanctions, and the high-stakes interplay between Washington and Moscow. The operation also underscores the challenges posed by “shadow fleets” and the lengths to which states will go to secure energy resources amid sanctions and geopolitical rivalries.