The Wall Street Journal, citing an official from the United States, reported that Russia had deployed a sub and other naval vessels in order to escort a?aging oil tanker which was trying to evade a U.S. blockade near Venezuela.

The tanker, previously known as Bella 1, has evaded interception ever since the U.S. Coast Guard tried to board and seize him in December following Washington's ban on sanctioned oil exports to and from Venezuela.

The?U.S. The Journal reported that three other U.S. government officials had asked the Journal to cease pursuing the vessel.

Could not verify immediately the report. The White House and U.S. Coast Guard did not respond immediately to a comment request outside of regular business hours.

The Journal reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry?was monitoring the situation around the tanker?with concern", citing the Russian state news agency RIA.

In a Tuesday post on X, the U.S. Southern Command (which oversees military operations in Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America) said that it was "ready to support U.S. government agency partners as they stand against sanctioned vessels or actors transiting this region." The U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said on Tuesday that it "remains ready to support U.S. Government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region."

The Journal reported that the U.S. Coast Guard continued to track the ship in the Eastern Atlantic. It is currently sailing 300 miles south of Iceland towards the North Sea, citing AIS position.

Journal reported that the tanker has changed its registration from?Russia to Marinera.

U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a plan to refine up to 50,000,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil that were?stuck in Venezuela due to the U.S. ban. This is another sign that Washington has been coordinating with Venezuelan officials since President Nicolas Maduro was captured in an overnight raid. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue, Ros Russell and Nilutpal Timsina from Bengaluru)

(source: Reuters)