U.S. Moves To Seize Iranian Gas Shipments Aboard 4 Tankers Heading To Venezuela

The Iranian oil tanker Fortune is anchored at the dock of El Palito refinery near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, on May 25.

RFE: U.S. Seeks To Seize Iran Gasoline Shipments Heading To Venezuela

U.S. prosecutors have filed a lawsuit to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is currently shipping to Venezuela, the latest attempt to increase pressure on the two sanctioned anti-American allies.

The civil-forfeiture complaint filed in the District of Columbia federal court late on July 1 claims the sale was arranged by an Iranian businessman with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Since September 2018, the IRGC's elite Quds Force has moved oil through a sanctioned shipping network involving dozens of ship managers, vessels, and facilitators, according to the lawsuit.

"The profits from these activities support the IRGC's full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad," the prosecutors alleged.

Iran's mission to the United Nations said that any attempt by the United States to prevent Iranian lawful trading with any country of its choosing would be an act of "piracy."

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More News On The U.S. Trying to Seize Iranian Gas Shipments Heading To Venezuela

US tries to seize Iranian gas heading toward Venezuela -- AP
U.S. seeks to seize gasoline in four Iran tankers bound for Venezuela -- Reuters
U.S. moves to seize Iranian petroleum aboard four tankers bound for Venezuela in sanctions escalation, push to extend arms embargo -- Washington Post
US seeks to seize Iranian petrol bound for Venezuela -- The National
US tries to seize four Iranian tankers sailing towards Venezuela -- Al Jazeera
US seeks to seize gasoline in four Iran tankers bound for Venezuela -- Middle East Monitor