US seizes Russian-flagged tanker in North Atlantic
The US has seized a Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic linked to Venezuelan oil
It also says it apprehended a second tanker in the Caribbean in the “back-to-back” boarding of two “ghost fleet” ships
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the Marinera’s crew will be brought to the US for prosecution “if necessary” – Russia’s foreign ministry earlier said the US must not hamper their return
Leavitt says the vessel, which US authorities are calling the Bella 1, was “deemed stateless after flying a false flag”
Moscow says the tanker was only temporarily flagged to Russia, and that “no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other countries’ jurisdictions”
The ship is accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil, it’s historically transported Venezuelan crude oil but reports say it’s empty at the moment
