Russia Threatens US with Military Action After Tanker Seizures Off Venezuela Coast

• Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev warned the US of military retaliation, including sinking Coast Guard boats, after the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker.
• US forces, with the Coast Guard, seized the tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic, claiming it transported sanctioned oil linked to Venezuela and Iran.
• Another tanker, M Sophia, carrying Venezuelan oil, was also intercepted near South America, marking the fourth such seizure recently.
• Russia views the seizures as a direct violation of international law and sovereignty, citing the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• The incidents have significantly heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, with Russia accusing the US of using sanctions as a pretext for military pressure.

Why It Matters: Russia issues stern warning to US over tanker seizures, escalating international tensions.