The Trump administration has allegedly confiscated four Iranian cargo ships believed to be carrying fuel in violation of U.S. sanctions.
The US has seized the four ships in recent days without using military force as tensions have risen between the White House and Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The ships – named the Bering, Bella, Luna and Pandi – are currently being diverted, en route to Houston, where White House officials will await their arrival, sources told the paper.
Fuel tankers in the Persian Gulf region have become targets after the US withdrew from the countries’ 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.
The Trump administration has accused Iran of suspected attacks by limpet mines on several tankers and, earlier Thursday, called the country to seize a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman.
The US sought approval from a federal court last month to seize four Iranian fuel tankers en route to Venezuela, according to the Journal.
The move would hurt two opponents – blocking fuel for Venezuela and revenue for Iran – as the Trump administration tries to pressure Iran to take a new nuclear deal.
It is unclear if those four ships were the same ships that were seized this week.
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