Iran Warns Against US Acts of Piracy on Shipments to Venezuela

US claims shipments are 'deceptive'

Iran’s Nour news agency, issued a report cautioning the US against making any moves against fuel shipments to Venezuela, saying that they are acting “just like pirates” and could face repercussions for such moves.

The report came in response to reports of US warships being sent to the Caribbean. Nour is said to be close to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and often makes statements intended to represent de facto Guards policy.

US officials issued an “advisory” against Iran-flagged tankers, accusing them of using “deceptive” practices to get shipments sent in violation of US sanctions. They also condemned Syria and North Korea in the advisory.

This is probably meant to raise uncertainty over US intentions, even though physically going after the tanker in international waters would be extremely escalatory and unlikely. Iran’s “deceptive” activity only amounts to sending oil to places the US doesn’t want it sent, and the US doesn’t want Iran to sell anywhere, so that must be everywhere.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.