U.S. officials are considering intercepting and seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker currently traversing the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe, according to a report by CBS News, the BBC's media partner in the United States. Two unnamed U.S. officials told CBS News that American forces are planning the interception of the vessel, which has a history of transporting Venezuelan crude oil. The tanker is believed to be located between Scotland and Iceland.

The potential action follows President Donald Trump's statement last month that he was ordering a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The Venezuelan government denounced the move as "theft." Prior to his administration's efforts to remove Nicolás Maduro from power, Trump had repeatedly accused the Venezuelan government of utilizing ships to transport drugs to the U.S.

Last month, the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the Bella 1 in the Caribbean Sea, suspecting it was en route to Venezuela. A warrant had been obtained to seize the ship, based on accusations of violating U.S. sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. The Bella 1 subsequently changed its course and name to the Marinera, and reportedly re-flagged.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry in an effort to pressure Maduro to step down. These sanctions prohibit U.S. companies and individuals from doing business with Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA. The U.S. government argues that Maduro's regime is illegitimate and that the sanctions are necessary to restore democracy in the country.

The potential seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker raises questions about the extent to which the U.S. is willing to enforce its sanctions on Venezuelan oil. It also introduces potential complications in U.S.-Russia relations. The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the potential interception. The situation remains fluid, and the exact timing and method of any potential U.S. action remain unclear.