In a escalating diplomatic standoff, the United States has announced plans to file criminal charges against the crew of the seized Russian tanker Mariner, formerly known as Bella-1. The vessel was intercepted in the North Atlantic amid allegations of transporting banned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi took to social media platform X to declare that officials would pursue legal action against the crew members who allegedly resisted Coast Guard orders. ‘The crew went to great lengths to save the tanker,’ she stated, emphasizing the ship’s suspected role in evading international sanctions.
Bondi further warned that the Department of Justice is monitoring several other vessels for similar violations. ‘Anyone on any ship who fails to comply with Coast Guard or federal directives will face investigation and prosecution,’ she added firmly.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry responded swiftly, issuing a statement expressing close vigilance over reports of US personnel boarding the ship. Moscow has demanded humane treatment for the Russian citizens aboard, full respect for their rights, and their prompt return home.
The confrontation traces back to Wednesday when US forces seized two tankers purportedly heading to purchase Venezuelan oil—one Russian-flagged Mariner and the Panamanian-flagged Sophia in the Caribbean Sea. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt had earlier indicated that the Mariner crew might be brought to the United States for potential judicial proceedings under federal law.
Russia’s Transport Ministry, cited by TASS news agency, invoked the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, arguing that no country has the right to use force against vessels registered in another nation’s jurisdiction. The incidents, occurring just hours apart, have heightened tensions between the two superpowers.
As investigations continue, this episode underscores ongoing frictions over sanctions enforcement and maritime law in international waters. Both nations remain locked in a war of words, with broader implications for global energy trade and diplomatic relations.