U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker in Caribbean Raid; Iran Vows Support for Venezuela
In a dramatic escalation of pressure on Caracas, U.S. personnel led by the Coast Guard boarded and seized a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a predawn operation Saturday. The vessel, carrying Venezuelan crude oil destined for Asia, was intercepted in international waters with assistance from the U.S. military. While the Trump administration framed the action as targeting the “illicit movement of sanctioned oil” that funds “narco-terrorism,” a U.S. official confirmed this specific tanker was not under prior sanctions and its crew did not contest the seizure. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicized the raid with a video showing a helicopter hovering over the ship, underscoring Washington’s intensified campaign to choke off Venezuela’s economic lifeline.
The seizure marks the second such interdiction this month, following President Trump’s announcement of a “blockade” against sanctioned tankers and part of a broader pressure campaign involving military deployments and strikes. Venezuela and Iran swiftly condemned the move as “acts of piracy” and “international terrorism.” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stated that Iran offered “full solidarity” and cooperation to confront U.S. actions, while Vice President Delcy Rodríguez vowed to take the matter to the U.N. Security Council. As the administration openly pursues the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro, these maritime seizures directly target the nation’s crippled oil industry, amplifying tensions in a strategic region already on edge.
