Tanker

US handing over seized tanker to Venezuela, officials say

The US hands back the Panama‑flagged M/T Sophia to Venezuela, marking the first reversal of such a seizure under the Trump administration.

|ByREUTERS
The Guinea-flagged oil tanker MT Bandra, which is under sanctions, is partially seen alongside another vessel at El Palito terminal, near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela December 29, 2025; illustrative.
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump departs after speaking during a House Republican retreat at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 06, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Trump cancels second wave of attacks on Venezuela following cooperation

Trump said the US and Venezuela were working well together, adding that at least $100 billion would be invested by the "big oil" companies in Venezuela.

|ByREUTERS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (L) speak following a closed door Senate meeting on the US capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, and his wife Cilia Flores, January 7, 2026.

Rubio says US plan for Venezuela is stability, recovery, then transition

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US plans to stabilize Venezuela, secure access for US oil companies, and oversee a political transition, drawing sharp Democratic criticism.

|ByREUTERS
A Spanish Civil Guard boat sails past Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 as it sits anchored after it was seized in July by British Royal Marines off the coast of the British Mediterranean territory on suspicion of violating sanctions against Syria, in the Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain August 13, 2019

Russia asks US to stop pursuit of fleeing oil tanker, claims authority - NYT

The tanker was en route from Iran to Venezuela when the Coast Guard attempted to apprehend it. The Coast Guard has been chasing the tanker for almost two weeks.

|ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Iranian tanker photographed off Syrian port Tartus: U.S. satellite firm

The blacklisted tanker, which is loaded with Iranian crude oil, sent the last signal giving its position between Cyprus and Syria sailing north at 15:53 GMT on Monday, Refinitiv data showed.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019ByREUTERS
An oil tanker off the coast of Tartus, Syria

US offers Iranian tanker captain cash reward to allow vessel to be seized

"With this money you can have any life you wish and be well-off in old age,” wrote US special envoy Brian Hook. “If you choose not to take this easy path, life will be much harder for you.”

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019ByTZVI JOFFRE
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, August 18, 2019.

Iran has released 7 crew members of seized tanker Stena Impero - Sweden FM

" I now look forward to the release of the entire ship and the rest of the crew. This is, of course, very gratifying for the crew and their relatives," said Sweden's FM Margot Wallstrom.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019ByREUTERS
Stena Impero, a British-flagged vessel owned by Stena Bulk, is seen at undisclosed place off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 22, 2019

Radical solutions to the Hormuz bottleneck

Iran’s dominance of the Strait of Hormuz has never satisfied its arch-enemy Saudi Arabia.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019ByNEVILLE TELLER
Iranian submarines participate in a naval parade on the last day of the Velayat-90 war game in the Sea of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran January 3, 2012

Iranian tanker headed to Lebanon, not Turkey

The Adrian Darya, formerly called Grace 1, was now headed for the southeastern Turkish port of Iskenderun, tracking site Marine Traffic showed.

AUGUST 30, 2019ByREUTERS
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, August 18, 2019.

UK sends HMS Defender warship to tense Middle East

It will join the HMS Montrose and HMS Kent. The Monstrose has already been involved in warning Iranian IRGC fast boats from approaching UK-flagged ships.

AUGUST 24, 2019BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar

Iranian tanker switches destination, heads to Turkey

The Adrian Darya, formerly called Grace 1, was released from detention off Gibraltar after a five-week standoff.

AUGUST 24, 2019ByREUTERS
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar

New Iranian tanker headed to Syria in violation of US sanctions - Report

“The vessel is now headed to Dubai, where it will refuel before beginning a months-long journey around the horn of Africa, through the Mediterranean and to the shores of Syria.”

AUGUST 20, 2019ByBENJAMIN WEINTHAL, SETH J. FRANTZMAN
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar

Will Iran outmaneuver U.S. in hunt for Grace 1 tanker? - analysis

On Friday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned mariners against crewing ships linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or others under US sanctions.

AUGUST 19, 2019BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A crew member of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 is seen on the bow as it sits anchored after it was seized earlier this month by British Royal Marines off the coast of the British Mediterranean territory

U.S. issues warrant to seize Iranian tanker off Gibraltar

The Grace 1 was seized by British Royal Marines at the western mouth of the Mediterranean on July 4 on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions by taking oil to Syria.

AUGUST 17, 2019ByREUTERS
A Spanish Civil Guard boat sails past Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 as it sits anchored after it was seized in July by British Royal Marines off the coast of the British Mediterranean territory on suspicion of violating sanctions against Syria, in the Strait of Gibraltar, southern Spain August 13, 2019