Updated: 13m| Published: 14h
The United States seized the Venezuelan-flagged oil tanker "Skipper", valued at over $90 million, off the Venezuelan coast, citing US sanctions against illicit oil shipments and past links to Iranian oil smuggling.Nicolás Maduro condemned the seizure as "international piracy" and "robbery," prompting Washington to also impose new sanctions on his nephews, Franqui Flores, Carlos Flores, and Efraín Campo, and six related firms.The operation, involving the US Coast Guard, FBI, Department of Justice, and Department of War, has escalated tensions, with Vladimir Putin speaking with Maduro to offer support amid what Moscow described as growing external pressure.
Tags

#Venezuela

#Iran

#USA

#NicolásMaduro

#Skipper

#FranquiFlores

#USCoastGuard

#CarlosFlores

#FBI

#EfraínCampo

#DepartmentOfWar

#VladimirPutin
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