The US is conducting an operation in international waters off the coast of Venezuela to intercept and detain a ship under Washington sanctions, Reuters reported, citing three unnamed US officials.
Agency sources did not say where the operation was being carried out, but added that it was being led by the US Coast Guard.
US President Donald Trump confirmed on December 10 that an oil tanker was detained off the coast of Venezuela and announced that the United States plans to keep the oil.
The US Department of Justice, which serves as the country's attorney general, claims the seized tankers were transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran in violation of US sanctions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela has announced that it considers the armed seizure of an oil tanker by the US in the Caribbean Sea "an act of open robbery and international piracy".
