Washington this week ordered a tanker of Iranian crude oil to redirect towards the US, in a move officials believe was the trigger for Iran’s decision to capture a US-bound tanker on Thursday.
Three people briefed on the situation said the US had redirected a ship loaded with Iranian crude, originally destined for China, in the past week as Washington looks to step up enforcement of sanctions on Tehran.
They said the US Department of Justice seized the tanker, the Suez Rajan, under a court order with co-operation from at least one company involved with the vessel, after it took on board a cargo of Iranian oil. Iran’s navy unsuccessfully tried to pursue the tanker after it changed course for the US. The DoJ declined to comment.
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