Russia has deployed a submarine and additional naval vessel to escort a sanctioned oil tanker across the Atlantic, heightening concerns of a possible confrontation with the United States, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters.
The tanker, now sailing under the Russian flag as Marinera, was previously known as Bella 1, a Guyana-flagged vessel linked to Iran and already under US Treasury sanctions. The ship is believed to be heading toward northern Russia and has been under close surveillance by Western forces for weeks.
Also Read | Keir Starmer's top aide warns cabinet of 'deficit in emotion' in connecting with voters
A White House official said last month that the United States Coast Guard had been considering boarding the vessel as part of efforts to seize sanctioned oil shipments. The tanker was recently spotted in the Atlantic around 500 miles west of Ireland, with a US Coast Guard ship following its movements.
Surveillance, sanctions and growing speculation
According to officials cited by Reuters, the tanker was monitored by the US, UK, France and Ireland after evading an earlier interception attempt in December. A US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was also observed tracking the vessel as it passed south of Iceland before returning to RAF Mildenhall.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russian naval forces, including a submarine, are now escorting the tanker back toward Russian waters. The move has fuelled speculation over the nature of the cargo on board. While the vessel is officially carrying Venezuelan oil, analysts have suggested it could also be transporting Iranian fuel or even Russian military equipment.
Data from TankerTrackers.com indicates the vessel previously transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China between 2021 and 2025. The tanker has been under US sanctions since June 2024 for allegedly moving illicit oil linked to a Hezbollah-connected firm.
Also Read | US targets short-term travelers from 38 nations with new visa bonds
If US forces were to attempt a boarding, it would echo recent seizures carried out off the coast of Venezuela, where American authorities intercepted two sanctioned tankers Skipper and Centuries, the latter reportedly carrying around 1.8 million barrels of crude bound for China.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said following those operations that Washington would continue to pursue sanctioned oil shipments used to fund criminal and extremist networks.
Venezuela, Russia and rising geopolitical tension
The situation unfolds against the backdrop of heightened tensions involving Donald Trump, who has previously ordered what he described as a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Caracas has denounced US interceptions as acts of “international piracy”.
Also Read | ‘Modi not happy with me’: Donald Trump on India-US trade row as 50% tariffs hit Indian goods
Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, has strengthened ties with Moscow in recent years. The Kremlin has condemned US military actions in the region, including the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, calling them unlawful and a breach of sovereignty.
Russia’s foreign ministry has reiterated its support for Venezuela’s right to determine its own future without outside interference. A senior Russian official told Reuters that if Washington seeks to assert influence in the Western Hemisphere, Moscow believes it has the right to protect its own regional interests.
With Russian naval assets now involved, analysts warn that any attempt by US forces to seize the tanker could escalate into a serious international incident.
