The tanker Marinera is now under U.S. control. According to a U.S. official who spoke to NBC, it was seized following an operation that resulted from a two-week effort. The ship was flying a Russian flag and, according to the official, also had connections to Iran.

The tanker represents the latest—and most critical—episode in the U.S. campaign to exert pressure around maritime transport linked to Venezuela. Photos in Russian media reportedly showed helicopters approaching the ship. U.S. officials added that Russian military vessels were in the wider area when the operation began, including a Russian submarine.

The U.S. military command responsible for operations across Europe confirmed the seizure on its X account, stating:

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the ship was in international waters and acting in accordance with international maritime law, according to the Russian state broadcaster RT. The ministry stated that the ship was flying a Russian flag and called on Western countries—including the U.S.—to respect its right to freedom of navigation.

According to Reuters, the U.S. had sought to capture the vessel after a more than two-week pursuit in the Atlantic, in an operation involving the Coast Guard and U.S. armed forces.

The ship was initially named Bella-1 and later renamed Marinera, and was flying a Russian flag at the time of the seizure.

Reuters notes that the tanker had previously evaded a U.S. “blockade” on sanctioned tankers and had prevented U.S. Coast Guard attempts to board the vessel.

The development carries added weight due to its geopolitical implications: U.S. officials reported that Russian military vessels, including a submarine, were in the wider area when the operation began—a factor that, according to Reuters, could escalate tensions between Washington and Moscow.

In a separate development, the U.S. Coast Guard also intercepted another tanker linked to Venezuela in Latin American waters, U.S. officials told Reuters.