Tehran slams US 'legalized piracy' on high seas as Washington seizes Iranian oil tankers
Iran has condemned the United States for the outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas, following the interception of Iranian oil tankers by US forces under the pretext of so-called "seizure warrants."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei issued the statement on Monday in response to announcements by US authorities claiming the interdiction of vessels such as the M/T Majestic (formerly M/T Phoenix) and M/T Tifani in the Indian Ocean.
These ships were reportedly carrying approximately 1.9 million barrels of Iranian oil each, seized under so-called federal warrants issued by US courts as part of Washington's unilateral sanctions regime.
"This is the outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas," Baghaei stated.
"Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder 'law enforcement,'” he stated.
“The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law and international free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security," he added.
This is the outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas.
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 27, 2026
Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder “law enforcement.”
The United States must be held fully… pic.twitter.com/5xACMKs45M
Baghaei's remarks underscore Tehran's longstanding position that Washington's extraterritorial sanctions and naval operations constitute a direct assault on the sovereignty of independent nations and the freedom of navigation enshrined in international conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Such actions by the US are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of economic terrorism aimed at strangling Iran's legitimate oil exports.
By targeting vessels in international waters far from US jurisdiction, Washington is effectively imposing a de facto blockade on global energy markets, destabilizing prices and punishing nations seeking to engage in lawful trade with the Islamic Republic.
Iran has repeatedly warned that these provocative measures not only violate core principles of international law but also risk escalating tensions in critical maritime chokepoints.
Washington, which has a documented history of interfering in global energy flows to serve its geopolitical agenda and that of its allies, is now openly brandishing "warrants" to justify what amounts to state-sponsored theft of Iranian resources.
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