US Navy seizes Russia-linked oil tanker

Moscow condemns seizure of 'Marinera'

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The United States on Wednesday seized a Russia-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela, an operation that drew condemnation from Moscow.

Washington said the tanker was part of a "shadow fleet" used to transport oil for countries including Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of US sanctions, and was seized despite being escorted by the Russian navy.

The vessel had evaded an earlier attempt to board it last month near Venezuela, where a US operation on Saturday toppled the country's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, a close ally of Moscow.

"The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court," US European Command said in a statement posted on X.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the American blockade on Venezuelan oil was in full effect "anywhere in the world".

Russia's transport ministry criticised the seizure, saying freedom of navigation applied on the high seas.