U.S. “SEIZES” IRANIAN TANKERS: Why the italics? It’s a sanctions seizure, not a sailor boarding party.

…U.S. officials threatened ship owners, insurers and captains with sanction to force them to hand over their cargo, which now becomes U.S. property, the official said.

Prosecutors alleged the four ships were transporting to Venezuela 1.1 million barrels of gasoline. But the tankers never arrived at the South American country and then went missing. Two of the ships later reappeared near Cape Verde, a second U.S. official said.

Both officials agreed to discuss the sensitive diplomatic and judicial offensive only if granted anonymity.

More:

One of the companies involved in the shipment to Venezuela, the Avantgarde Group, was previously linked to the Revolutionary Guard and attempts to evade U.S. sanctions, according to prosecutors.

Venezuela calls it psychological warfare. Yes, and lawfare, diplomatic, economic and information warfare elements as well. Think of it as an American power cocktail.