MOSCOW: Russian lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev on Thursday issued a fierce warning to the United States in the wake of US forces seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. Zhuravlev claimed that the US is acting with severe impunity and should be met with military force if it continues what Moscow perceives as unlawful seizures on the high seas.

The US boarding and seizure of the tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella 1, prompted Zhuravlev to advocate for aggressive retaliation. "To attack with torpedoes, to sink a couple of American Coast Guard boats—normally, they guard their shore several thousand kilometres away," he remarked, suggesting that only decisive action could restrain what he described as US hubris stemming from the recent special operation in Venezuela.

The comments come after the US military, in coordination with the Coast Guard, executed a warrant from a US federal court to seize the Marinera in international waters north of Scotland. Additionally, US forces intercepted another tanker carrying Venezuelan oil, marking the fourth seizure within weeks. The Marinera was reportedly loaded with oil from Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA.

Washington argues that the Marinera is part of a network smuggling sanctioned oil with links to both Venezuela and Iran. In Russia, however, officials decry the action as a blatant violation of international law, asserting that the tanker was lawfully registered and adhered to both Russian and international protocols.

The Russian Ministry of Transport stated that the Marinera received a temporary permit to sail under the Russian flag, and the incident has ignited tensions between Moscow and Washington. This has led to speculation about Russian naval assets, including submarines, allegedly operating nearby during the US operation.

While the Kremlin has not officially supported Zhuravlev’s calls for military action, his statement emphasizes the increasingly aggressive rhetoric from Russian officials. The tension surrounding this incident adds to the already fraught relations between Russia and the West, with Moscow accusing the United States of exploiting sanctions enforcement as a cover for military pressures.