TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday condemned the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as an act of "state piracy."
He made the remarks in a statement released by the ministry two days after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military had intercepted and taken control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
"The U.S. seizure of trade vessels belonging to other countries is a flagrant disregard for international law and a blatant violation of the principles governing international maritime security and safety," he said.
He warned about the repercussions of repeating such coercive behaviors on international peace, security and trade, calling on all governments and relevant international institutions to oppose such illegal actions and hold the United States accountable.
For almost four months, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in the Caribbean, much of it off Venezuela's coast, purportedly to combat drug trafficking -- a claim Venezuela has denounced as a thinly veiled attempt to bring about regime change in Caracas. ■