US seizes another sanctioned oil tanker

Oil prices remained steady following news that the US Department of War (DoW) has seized another oil tanker allegedly carrying sanctioned oil.

IMAGE: US forces onboarding the oil tanker Veronica III. US DoW via social media platform X

The DoW said in a statement that the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Veronica III was seized in the Indian Ocean, as the department continues its efforts to crack down Iranian and Venezuelan oil trade, deemed illicit by the Donald Trump-led US government.

“We tracked it [Veronica III] from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down,” the DoW said. It also shared a video on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) showing army personnel seizing a vessel.

In January, the US Coast Guard (USCG) seized another oil tanker, Veronica, in the Caribbean Sea. The move was followed by another interception earlier in February.

Last year, Trump ordered a “complete and total” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela.

The move also reinforces Washington’s commitment to tightening sanctions on Iran, as it seeks to drive the OPEC member’s oil exports down to zero and curb its nuclear enrichment ambitions.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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