Lavrov Says Russia Expects U.S. to Free Crew of Seized Venezuela-Linked Tanker

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow expects the United States to release Russian crew members serving aboard a Venezuela-linked oil tanker that was seized by Washington in the Atlantic earlier this month.

Lavrov said the tanker, identified as the Marinera, was boarded by U.S. naval forces near Iceland on January 7 as part of efforts aimed at blocking oil exports from Venezuela. He added that the crew included two Russians, along with nationals from Ukraine, Georgia and India.

The incident comes amid heightened enforcement actions linked to restrictions on Venezuela’s oil trade, further straining international tensions around sanctions and maritime seizures.

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