So, I wanted to see what Gemini thought of yesterday’s activities… So I asked (notice the guardrails):

Assuming all the allegations by the US Department of Defense and the Trump Administration are true, given all the published, in-force regulation, guidance, legislation and Frequently-Asked Questions, etc. published by the US government in relation to Venezuela and Iran, was yesterday’s seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela legal? Justify your decision and produce sources from US government websites.

and this is what I got back:

Based on the reports of the seizure of the oil tanker “The Skipper” (formerly Adisa) on December 10, 2025, and assuming all allegations by the Department of Defense and the Trump Administration are true, the seizure is legal under United States law.

The legality is grounded in a combination of Executive Orders (sanctions), federal statutes (forfeiture and anti-terrorism), and judicial process (seizure warrant).¹

Legal Justification

1. Violation of Sanctions & Material Support to Terrorism2

The US government alleges the tanker was transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran and supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).3

• Iran Sanctions: Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Executive Order 13224 (Counter Terrorism), the US prohibits transactions that provide material support to designated terrorist organizations (like the IRGC).⁴ The transport of Iranian oil is considered a mechanism for funding the IRGC’s Qods Force.
• Venezuela Sanctions: Executive Order 13850 and Executive Order 13884 block the property of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) and prohibit US persons or those within US jurisdiction from dealing in Venezuelan oil.
• Secondary Sanctions: Even for non-US ships, providing “material support” or goods/services to a designated FTO or sanctioned entity can trigger US jurisdiction under extraterritorial sanctions provisions.

2. Civil Forfeiture Authority

The seizure was reportedly conducted pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a US federal court.

• 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) and (G): These statutes authorize the civil forfeiture of any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to a violation of IEEPA, or assets of any foreign terrorist organization engaged in planning or perpetrating acts of terrorism against the US.
• Because the oil and the vessel constitute “property” used to facilitate these violations or are proceeds of the violations, they are subject to forfeiture to the US government.

3. Maritime Law Enforcement

• 14 U.S.C. § 522: This statute grants the US Coast Guard (which participated in the operation) the authority to make inquiries, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, for the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of laws of the United States.
• Jurisdiction over the Vessel: While the vessel was reportedly “off the coast of Venezuela” (likely international waters), the US often establishes jurisdiction if:
  • The vessel is stateless (not properly registered).
  • The flag state (in this case, reportedly Guyana) consents to the US boarding and seizure.
  • The vessel is deemed “property” subject to a US court’s forfeiture warrant.

Sources from US Government Websites

• Authority for Sanctions (Iran & Counter-Terrorism):
  • Executive Order 13224 – Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism: State.gov – Executive Order 13224
  • Terrorist Designation of the IRGC: State.gov – Foreign Terrorist Organizations
• Authority for Sanctions (Venezuela):
  • Executive Order 13850 – Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela: Treasury.gov – Venezuela Sanctions
• Forfeiture and Seizure Authority:
  • Asset Forfeiture Program (Department of Justice): Explains the use of forfeiture to disrupt criminal activity, including terrorist financing. Justice.gov – Asset Forfeiture Program
  • (Precedent) 2020 Seizure of Iranian Fuel: The Department of Justice previously successfully executed similar seizure warrants for Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela aboard the vessels Bella, Bering, Pandi, and Luna, citing the same legal authorities (IEEPA, forfeiture for FTO support).⁵ Justice.gov – 2020 Press Release

And the list of sources included The Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Justice website, Al Jazeera and Wikipedia (for what that’s worth)…

Would welcome someone more expert than me, and with no axe to grind, giving their opinion