Trump administration says it seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffDecember 10, 2025 at 08:55 PM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

In December 2025, the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, escalating tensions between the two countries. President Trump confirmed the seizure, stating it was a very large tanker, but declined to provide details about its name or owner. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the seizure was a coordinated effort between multiple US agencies, including the Coast Guard, Department of Defense, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security. She added that the tanker was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela to Iran and had been under sanctions for several years. The seizure is part of the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Venezuela, which has included military deployments to the Caribbean region.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Nicolas Maduro ×280% Donald Trump ×7100% Venezuela ×6100% United States ×3100%

Keywords

oil tanker seizure 100% us venezuela tensions 90% trump administration 80% sanctions 70% military action 60% coast guard 50% department of defense 50% iran 40%