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Iran Says It Seized Oil Tanker Listed by U.S. as Sanctions Violator
New York Times ^ | May 8 2026 | Jenny Grosse

Posted on 05/08/2026 9:58:48 AM PDT by edwinland

Iranian state media posted a video on Friday that appeared to show Iran’s Navy seizing an oil tanker identified as the Ocean Koi.

The vessel was “exploiting the conditions in the region to harm and disrupt oil exports and the interests of the Iranian nation,” the state news agency IRNA said. The tanker, carrying Iranian oil, was escorted to Iran’s southern coast. Shipping analysts said that the tanker was Chinese-owned.

On Feb. 25 the U.S. Treasury Department identified the vessel as part of a shadow fleet of ships that it said Iran used in violation of U.S. sanctions.

[snip]

“Given the vessel’s established history within the Iranian trade ecosystem, this seizure appears to be a performative move likely intended to project regional authority or obscure deeper cooperation,” according to Windward AI, a maritime tracking company.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Iran
KEYWORDS: armchairadmirals; armchairgeneralsoffr; habitualcomplainers; habitualcomplaining; iran; performative

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If this is true, it tells you that it's all over but the shouting. The regime is forgoing any objection they could make to the US blockade, which is strangling them ... for what?

My suggestion: to shore up their power against internal opposition.

This would mean they are living on borrowed time.

1 posted on 05/08/2026 9:58:48 AM PDT by edwinland
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To: edwinland

The Iranians must be listening to that man on the Steve Bannon show that appears daily. He called Trump a TACO yesterday without objection from Bannon.


2 posted on 05/08/2026 10:01:10 AM PDT by odawg
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To: edwinland
Iranian state media posted a video on Friday that appeared to show Iran’s Navy seizing an oil tanker identified as the Ocean Koi.

Unpossible. Trump destroyed the Iranian Navy.

3 posted on 05/08/2026 10:03:44 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (Import the third world. Become the second world.)
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To: edwinland

The IRGC knows if they surrender, they are as good as dead. So, they’re going to force Trump, and by extension the US, to kill a lot of innocent people to remove the IRGC.


4 posted on 05/08/2026 10:03:59 AM PDT by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021 and beyond.)
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To: edwinland

Approximately 16–18% of Iran’s population lives in the Tehran metropolitan area (around 15 million people), while the city proper houses roughly 9.7 million. Tehran Province serves as the nation’s economic engine, contributing roughly 29-30% of Iran’s GDP and accounting for roughly 40% of its consumer market.


5 posted on 05/08/2026 10:08:35 AM PDT by kawhill (Dywedwch Wrthbym byecause + Add translation Welsh-English dictionary 'Tell Us')
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To: edwinland

If true then Trump may be allowing the Iranians enough rope to hang themselves.


6 posted on 05/08/2026 10:09:03 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: edwinland

Article says tanker is Chinese owned. Another article said this occurred in the Gulf of Oman.


7 posted on 05/08/2026 10:13:57 AM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: edwinland

I wonder if china is playing along in some weird political theater.


8 posted on 05/08/2026 10:15:46 AM PDT by lonestar67 (America is exceptional)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Seized a tanker from their own ally transporting Iranian oil to China that was being used to avoid US sanctions. If this wasn’t a case of Iran accidentally attacking thir own ally, it was probably done to avoid the embarrassment of it being seized by the US. Amazing that anyone would actually attempt to spin this as being some sort of show of strength by iran.


9 posted on 05/08/2026 10:17:09 AM PDT by JoeRed
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To: edwinland

Somebody forget to make a payment or is being required to make an additional payment.

Iranian thugs are making retirement plans, just in case.


10 posted on 05/08/2026 10:22:52 AM PDT by Brian Griffin (Ask your Congressman to tax tariff refunds at 100% & > ~$500 to each insured vehicle owner 4 gas)
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To: edwinland

Is this the level of the school bully stealing your milk $$😂


11 posted on 05/08/2026 10:34:17 AM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the Change You Filthy Animal !)
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To: edwinland

Time to commence the total war bombing and end this crap (the other word meant here).


12 posted on 05/08/2026 10:35:46 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (The Bible speaks truth! Don't believe it, you do so at your own peril. You'd better be right!!)
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To: odawg

Stopped watching Bannon when he started calling us Israel Firsters. Guess he decides who is in MAGA and who is not. Used to watch him every day and is now unwatchable if you think Israel has the right to exist.


13 posted on 05/08/2026 10:36:17 AM PDT by bray (Thank God for Israel)
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To: bray
I'll start watching Bannon again when he finally releases his Epstein documentary.

He said he was going to release it, right?

14 posted on 05/08/2026 10:40:19 AM PDT by CaptainK ("No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up” )
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To: CaptainK

His Epstein Documentary? I guess home movie night would be fun...but I don’t wanna watch his homemade porn.


15 posted on 05/08/2026 10:55:30 AM PDT by DesertRhino (When men on the chessboard, get up and tell you where to go…)
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To: odawg

Steve Bannon’s a fag.


16 posted on 05/08/2026 11:19:44 AM PDT by xone ( )
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To: edwinland

EATING THEIR OWN.


17 posted on 05/08/2026 11:49:31 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: kawhill

I thought Tehran was running out of water?


18 posted on 05/08/2026 12:22:34 PM PDT by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US;-))
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To: edwinland

“Iran’s Navy”??????


19 posted on 05/08/2026 1:25:09 PM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: lonestar67; JoeRed

“ I wonder if china is playing along in some weird political theater.”

Just and agreement between two buddies to keep the Chicom assets from being seized or disable by the US.


20 posted on 05/08/2026 2:21:25 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.)
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