WASHINGTON — The United States has seized more than 1.1 million barrels of Iranian fuel that was headed to Venezuela, officials said on Friday, in a high-seas handover that blocked two diplomatic adversaries from evading American economic sanctions. The transfer of fuel from four Greek-owned ships, occurring over the past several weeks, risked igniting a tit-for-tat response from Iran. American officials said the four tankers — the Bella, the Bering, the Pandi and the Luna — were boarded without force after diplomatic and legal pressure was brought to bear against a Greek shipping magnate, George Gialozoglou. American officials would not describe how the high-seas intercepts occurred other than to say U.S. military ships were not involved. A warrant dated July 1 that approved the operation said the fuel could be secured by American government personnel, contractors or others appointed by the court.

Source: New York Times August 14, 2020 22:07 UTC