(NewsNation) — The U.S. has sanctioned six Venezuelan vessels, a day after President Donald Trump confirmed the military seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
The White House said Wednesday’s dramatic mission — which included personnel fast-roping onto the tanker with guns drawn — could be the first of many, Reuters first reported.
The vessel seized by the U.S. on Wednesday is headed to Galveston, Texas, a U.S. official tells NewsNation. The crew aboard is expected to be released upon the vessel docking.
The administration contends the tanker was moving sanctioned oil with the ultimate goal of it going to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The White House said the people on board that ship are now in custody, and an estimated $60 to $100 million worth of oil aboard will be seized.
“We’re not gonna stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco-terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Tension between the U.S. and Venezuela has escalated, spurred on by Trump’s orders to increase U.S. military presence in the region.
Trump has placed an aircraft carrier, fighter jets and tens of thousands of troops near Venezuela, as deadly strikes against alleged drug boats continue and a pressure campaign builds against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump’s actions have long garnered bipartisan concern in the U.S., but Wednesday’s seizure caught the international attention of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Cuba’s top diplomat and others.
The Kremlin said Putin called Maduro and expressed support for Venezuela, which Maduro characterized as “unwavering.”
While Maduro has said he doesn’t want war, he has vowed to protect Venezuela and its exports, calling the Trump administration’s ship seizure “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”