Sanctioned Iranian oil tanker defies threats, begins offloading near Texas

An American-owned oil tanker, the Suez Rajan, suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil, has begun offloading its cargo near Texas, despite threats from Iran. The tanker's cargo has become entangled in the wider tensions between the US and Iran, as Tehran has warned that those involved in offloading the cargo should expect retaliation. Ship-tracking data shows that the oil is being transferred to another tanker, the Mr Euphrates, near Galveston, Texas. The fate of the cargo has been a political issue, with US senators urging the White House to enforce sanctions and use the estimated $56 million worth of cargo to compensate victims of state-sponsored terrorism.