President Donald Trump, speaking hours after the boarding during a business roundtable at the White House, suggested the shipment is likely to remain in American hands, remarking that the United States will ultimately “keep” the oil.
Energy-market analysts believe the crude was loaded covertly in mid-November and was likely destined for Cuba. Matt Smith, lead U.S. analyst at consultancy Kpler, said satellite tracking indicated a clandestine transfer before the tanker set a course north. Although the ship flew Guyana’s flag, the Guyanese Maritime Administration has stated the vessel is not listed in its national registry.
Industry specialists expect the Department of Justice to pursue civil asset forfeiture, a mechanism previously used to dispose of sanctioned petroleum. Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House adviser, anticipates a court-supervised sale, with proceeds channeled to federal accounts once legal hurdles are cleared.
Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, noted that the United States has repeatedly seized Iranian crude delivered to the Gulf Coast. He said such cases require Washington to indemnify buyers, ship operators involved in lightering operations, and associated service providers, ensuring that commercial entities are shielded from liability.
Asset seizures have generated sizable returns for the government. A 2024 confiscation of Iranian oil yielded approximately $47 million, some of which was allocated to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Oversight of forfeited property is typically handled by the U.S. Marshals Service, though an agency spokesperson confirmed the Marshals are not participating in the current matter.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social-media post that “Skipper” has been under sanction for several years for allegedly supporting illicit shipping networks tied to foreign terrorist groups. She indicated that her department, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, continues to investigate the vessel’s recent activities and ownership structure.
During testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the operation, describing it as part of broader efforts to counter regimes that, in her words, “finance criminal enterprises that endanger Americans.” She praised the Coast Guard for targeting drug traffickers and what she termed a “shadow fleet” of sanctioned tankers.
The administration’s reliance on civil forfeiture is guided by federal statutes allowing the government to claim assets linked to sanctions violations, terrorism financing or money laundering. Detailed procedures for seizing, managing and liquidating such property are outlined by the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program, which coordinates with multiple agencies to convert seized goods into revenue.
While officials have not disclosed the U.S. port of destination, maritime tracking data show the tanker reducing speed and adjusting its course toward the northern Caribbean, suggesting an eventual entry into the Gulf of Mexico. Once docked, the cargo is expected to undergo sampling, certification and judicial clearance before any sale can proceed.
Legal experts anticipate ship owners and possible charterers will challenge the forfeiture in federal court, a step that could extend the timeline for disposition of the oil. However, previous precedents involving Iranian cargoes indicate that the government’s position has been consistently upheld when sanctions violations are proved.
Crédito da imagem: U.S. Attorney General
