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.

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

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

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


U.S. bid to seize Iranian tanker halts its release from Gibraltar

The Grace 1 oil tanker was seized by Royal Marine commandos in a landing in darkness off the coast of the British overseas territory on July 4.

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

Iran says Britain might free oil tanker soon

One British official said that these investigations are a matter for the government of Gibraltar.

Malta-flagged Iranian crude oil supertanker "Delvar" is seen anchored off Singapore March 1, 2012. Western trade sanctions against Iran are strangling its oil exports even before they go into effect, a U.S. advisory body has found, amid warnings that any shortages will only push up crude prices and

U.S. warns of GPS interference, communications spoofing in Persian Gulf

Ships in the area have reported spoofed communications from "unknown entities falsely claiming to be US or coalition warships."

A helicopter of Iranian Revolutionary Guard flies over Stena Impero, a British-flagged vessel owned by Stena Bulk

Iran's detention of UK-flagged tanker unacceptable, owner claims

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned on Tuesday that shipping might not be safe in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that "war with Iran is the mother of all wars."

Undated photograph shows the Mesdar, a British-operated oil tanker in Fawley, Britain obtained by Reuters on July 19, 2019

Iran thinks it can do whatever it wants in the Gulf - analysis

Tehran has read the American playbook and through its recent actions is attempting to assert power in the Persian Gulf, power beyond just the areas controlled by its coastal waters.

A Nour missile is test fired off Iran's first domestically made destroyer, Jamaran, on the southern shores of Iran in the Persian Gulf March 9, 2010

Radical solutions to the Hormuz bottleneck

Always aware of its potential power, Iran has from time to time chosen to demonstrate its muscle.

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

UK Commander: Iran testing British navy, but remains professional

During 27 days of patrolling the entrance to the Gulf, he had 85 "interactions with Iranian forces" which often led to "an exchange of warnings" over radio.

HMS Montrose performs a series of tight turns off Oman

MI6 fears Iran used Russian GPS tech to send UK tanker off course - report

In June, senior Israeli officials said that they believe that Russia had been disrupting civilian aircraft navigation systems.

 Iran's President Hassan Rouhani together with Russia's Vladimir Putin attend a joint news conference following their meeting in Sochi, Russia November 22, 2017

Hunt warns UK ships to avoid Hormuz, amid diplomatic efforts with Iran

The UK will also form a European-led maritime mission to support safe passage of ships in the region. Hunt stressed that this would not be part of the “US maximum pressure policy on Iran.”

Jeremy Hunt gestures as he attends a event in Cheltenham, Britain July 12, 2019

Pompeo dismisses Iran announcement of CIA spy arrests

"The Iranian regime has a long history of lying ... I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions that they've taken."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo