The US government has seized three oil tankers in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The operation resulted in the capture of nearly six million barrels of crude oil with an estimated value of $600 million. The Pentagon confirmed that the vessels were linked to Iranian sanctions and alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Venezuelan state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.
The seizures occurred over a two-month period. The tanker Skipper was intercepted in late December 2025 with 1.8 million barrels of crude. In early January 2026, US forces captured the Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, following a pursuit in the North Atlantic. The final vessel, the Bertha, was seized on February 24, 2026, in the Indian Ocean while carrying 1.9 million barrels of heavy Merey crude.
The tankers utilized tactics common to shadow fleets, including frequent name changes, reflagging under jurisdictions like the Cook Islands, and disabling AIS transponders to avoid detection. Ship-to-ship transfers in open water were also employed to conceal the origin of the cargo. The US Navy and Coast Guard have adopted a strategy of direct confrontation at sea to enforce sanctions.
Global oil consumption is estimated at 100 million barrels per day, making the seized volume equivalent to roughly one hour of worldwide demand. The US authorities stated that these actions aim to disrupt the revenue streams of the Iranian military and the Venezuelan government, which rely on oil exports to fund their operations and maintain economic stability.
