Sanctioned Iranian oil tanker defies threats, begins offloading near Texas

An oil tanker suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil has begun offloading its cargo near Texas, despite threats from Iran. The Marshall Islands-flagged Suez Rajan transferred its oil to another tanker, the MR Euphrates, near Galveston. The fate of the cargo has become entangled in the tensions between the US and Iran, as Tehran tries to evade sanctions and continue selling its oil abroad. The US Navy has increased its presence in the region, and Iran has warned that those involved in offloading the cargo should expect retaliation. The offloading of the Suez Rajan's cargo has become a political issue, with US senators calling for enforcement of sanctions and the funds to be used for compensating victims of state-sponsored terrorism.