The US is expected to soon begin unloading oil from an Iranian vessel it seized which is now anchored off the coast of Texas, threatening to escalate a shadow tanker war with Tehran.The Suez Rajan arrived offshore of Galveston on May 29 and is at anchor some 70 miles from the Texas port, according to transponder location data and satellite imagery.
The US Department of Justice seized the Suez Rajan under a court order with co-operation from at least one company involved with the vessel, the FT previously reported. The ship has been the subject of scrutiny since last year following claims it took on board a cargo of Iranian oil, then intended for China, from another ship near Singapore.
The case of the Suez Rajan is one of several recent maritime incidents involving the US and Iran and threatens to increase tensions between the countries as Washington and its European allies have renewed discussions on how to engage Iran on its nuclear activity.