WSJ: Trump Had Discussions About Seizing Tankers Carrying Iranian Oil
- 11.02.2026, 8:07
- 1,908
But they refused.
Trump administration officials discussed the possibility of seizing tankers carrying Iranian oil. Washington wanted to put pressure on Tehran for the sake of the nuclear deal, but abandoned the idea because of the threat of retaliation.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal.
In particular, the U.S. has already seized several ships carrying Iranian oil as part of a two-month blockade of sanctioned tankers serving Venezuela.
These tankers, which make up the so-called "shadow fleet," help transport "illegal oil" from numerous countries that are under sanctions. For example, shipments are made to China and other buyers.
Politico writes that a U.S. decision to block Iran from loading oil for other sub-sanctioned tankers would undermine Tehran's main source of revenue, expanding an aggressive strategy hatched by the White House in December in the Caribbean Sea.
Officials said it is one of several options the Trump administration is discussing to force Tehran to make a deal to curb its nuclear program. However, such an approach faces many obstacles and would be considered an act of war.
Iran would then likely respond by confiscating tankers carrying oil from US allies, or would mine the Strait of Hormuz, through which up to 25% of the world's oil supply passes.
Either of the above two steps would likely raise oil prices sharply, which could cause a political scandal in the White House.
According to officials, the U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on more than 20 ships carrying Iranian oil in 2026 alone, making them potential targets for seizure.
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