A photo posted by the official X account of U.S. European Command on Jan. 7, 2026, shows a U.S. Coast Guard member looking at an Iran-linked oil tanker in the north Atlantic Ocean. (X)
U.S. forces seized an Iran-linked oil tanker in the north Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday after doggedly pursuing the vessel for more than two weeks, U.S. military officials said.
The operation was led by the Department of Homeland Security and supported by American military personnel, according to an X post by U.S. European Command.
The ship, formerly known as the Bella 1, was seized under a warrant issued by an American federal court after being tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro, EUCOM added.
On Tuesday, the tanker, now flying a Russian flag and renamed the Marinera, was sailing about 300 miles south of Iceland toward the North Sea.
The vessel was targeted for violating U.S. sanctions, and its seizure supports President Donald Trump’s proclamation that such ships “threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere,” EUCOM said in the post.
The ship was sanctioned in 2024 by the U.S. amid claims that it was smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.
Hezbollah is one of a number of Middle East proxy groups funded by Iran.
The seizure followed what appeared to be days of preparation by U.S. forces, including multiple Navy P-8 patrol and reconnaissance aircraft flights in the area near the tanker.
A Coast Guard cutter, presumably Munro, was videotaped shadowing the vessel earlier this week.
During the operation Wednesday, Russian naval vessels including a submarine were nearby, U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters.
Russian state-run media outlet RT reported the operation on X in a post that included pictures it said confirmed the attempt to board the vessel. The photos appear to have been taken from inside the ship and show military helicopters flying very close to it.
The Coast Guard stopped the tanker in the Caribbean Sea on Dec. 21 as it was heading to Venezuela to load with oil.
But the vessel, which originated in Iran and is considered part of a fleet of ships used to transport illicit oil around the world, refused the intended boarding and sailed into the Atlantic, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, U.S. Southern Command announced that the U.S. had apprehended a stateless, sanctioned tanker without incident during a predawn raid.
The vessel, the Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea and is now being escorted by the Coast Guard to the U.S., SOUTHCOM said in a post on X.
The tankers are part of a dark fleet that transports oil for Russia, Iran and Venezuela to evade sanctions by the U.S., among other countries.
Recently, the U.S. has redoubled its efforts to stop them, including a complete blockade on those traveling to and from Venezuela.
“The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a post on X. “Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce — as determined by the U.S. — will be permitted.”
A photo circulating on social media Jan. 7, 2026, allegedly shows U.S. forces preparing to board an Iran-linked oil tanker in the north Atlantic Ocean. (X)