The U.S. government has taken significant legal steps aimed at seizing the oil tanker 'Skipper' and its cargo of Venezuelan crude oil, alleging that these transactions have financially benefited Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force, both classified by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations. The Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit in the District Court for the District of Columbia seeking forfeiture of the vessel seized on December 10, 2025, while carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil.

The charges indicate that the Skipper has been involved in a scheme since at least 2021 to transport and sell oil from both Iran and Venezuela, using tactics designed to obscure the origins and destinations of the shipments. The alleged techniques include manipulation of tracking systems, use of false flags, and transferring cargo between ships in international waters, all aimed at circumventing U.S. sanctions and regulations.

This move by the U.S. highlights ongoing tensions relating to oil trade involving sanctioned countries. It also reflects the broader geopolitical implications of U.S. sanctions and efforts to disrupt funding channels for organizations like the IRGC. The legal action could have far-reaching consequences not just for the parties involved but also for international maritime law and the practices of oil transportation in the context of global sanctions regimes.