US Sanctions Six More Ships After Seizing Oil Tanker Off Venezuela

The United States has significantly intensified its pressure campaign on Venezuela’s government, sanctioning six additional oil tankers and their operators just a day after seizing a sanctioned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. The sweeping actions mark a dramatic escalation in U.S. attempts to choke off financial resources flowing to the administration of President Nicolás Maduro and allied networks alleged to aid sanctioned states like Iran and militant groups.

The sanctions, announced on Thursday by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target six vessels and their associated companies accused of transporting Venezuelan crude in violation of existing U.S. sanctions. The move follows the high-profile seizure of the tanker Skipper, which U.S. officials described as part of an illicit “shadow fleet” of oil carriers involved in sanction-evasion practices.

Tanker Seizure Signals New Phase in Sanctions Enforcement

On Wednesday, American forces executed a rare maritime operation off Venezuela’s coast to seize the oil tanker Skipper, which had previously been sanctioned for carrying oil linked to both Venezuela and Iran. U.S. authorities allege the vessel was involved in shipping sanctioned oil to markets including Cuba and Asia, despite restrictions meant to curb revenue flowing to the Maduro government and allied entities such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.

Video released by U.S. officials showed troops rappelling from helicopters onto the tanker’s deck to enforce a U.S. seizure warrant—an unprecedented action under longstanding sanctions programs. The White House has indicated it intends to take possession of the oil as part of a legal forfeiture process, although that process is still unfolding.

The United States describes the operation as a lawful enforcement of sanctions aimed at disrupting networks that undercut international rules and finance destabilizing activities. Washington insists that the vessels and their owners are evading sanctions, engaging in deceptive practices, and helping funnel oil revenue to regimes it considers corrupt or hostile.

However, Venezuela’s government has blasted the seizure as an act of “piracy” and theft, denouncing it as a breach of international law and a blatant attack on the country’s sovereignty. President Maduro and officials have vowed that Caracas will not allow its resources to be taken by force and have appealed to international sentiment against what they describe as U.S. aggression.

Expanded Sanctions and Broader Targets

In addition to the ship sanctions, U.S. authorities also struck individuals connected to Maduro’s inner circle. Among those named were three nephews of the Venezuelan president’s wife, reinforcing the administration’s aim to punish a wider network that it alleges has profited from sanction-evasion schemes.

The six newly sanctioned tankers and their affiliated companies are now subject to asset freezes in U.S. jurisdictions, and American firms and individuals are barred from engaging in business with them. While the identities of all the targeted vessels and companies vary by report, shipping data and watchdog groups indicate the tankers operate under opaque ownership structures typical of what analysts call the “shadow fleet”—vessels that turn off tracking systems, fly flags of convenience, and obscure their affiliations to evade sanctions.

Implications for Venezuela’s Oil Exports

Venezuela’s economy is overwhelmingly dependent on oil exports, which remain its principal revenue source despite years of economic contraction and Western sanctions. The U.S. campaign threatens to disrupt not only one ship but a wider network of tankers and operators that have enabled Caracas to keep crude flowing. According to tracking data, there are dozens of sanctioned vessels operating in and around Venezuelan waters, and the recent seizure has put many of them on notice that they could be next.

Industry sources tell Reuters that at least one shipper has already temporarily canceled or delayed voyages carrying millions of barrels of Venezuelan crude after the Skipper seizure, signaling anxiety within the maritime sector about the risks of continued sanction-evasion shipping.

Some analysts warn that if U.S. enforcement actions continue, Venezuelan oil exports could face substantial delays or further detentions of tankers en route to buyers—most notably in Asia, where a significant portion of Venezuelan crude has traditionally been sold through intermediaries willing to operate outside strict regulatory frameworks.

Regional and Global Backlash

Caracas’ reaction to the sanctions and the tanker seizure was swift and vociferous. Government officials condemned the actions as unlawful and provocative, accusing the United States of engaging in economic warfare. Some international observers have raised concerns about the legal basis for seizing foreign-flagged vessels in international waters, a debate that highlights the complex intersection of national sanction regimes and international maritime law.

Russia and other allies of Venezuela have publicly supported Maduro’s condemnation of U.S. actions, framing them as a dangerous precedent in international relations. Venezuela’s government has also sought reassurances from friendly states and called on regional blocs to speak out against what it labels U.S. aggression.

What Comes Next?

The U.S. appears poised to continue its sanctions and enforcement campaign. Officials have signaled that they may pursue additional tankers linked to sanction-evasion networks, and the Treasury has compiled lists of potential targets for further action. This suggests that the current moves may be only the beginning of a broader effort to constrict the movement of Venezuelan oil that benefits sanctioned entities.

For Venezuela, the stakes are high. A further tightening of sanctions and potential seizures could squeeze the oil-dependent economy even more, complicating Maduro’s efforts to stabilize his country and maintain political control.

As of now, the U.S. sanctions and maritime operations represent a significant escalation in pressure on Venezuela—one that could reshape energy trade patterns, heighten geopolitical tensions, and add a new chapter to the ongoing conflict between Washington and Caracas.