"American Tanker Defies Tehran's Threats, Unloads Suspected Iranian Crude near Texas"
An American-owned oil tanker suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil offloaded its cargo near Texas, despite threats from Iran. The Marshall Islands-flagged Suez Rajan transferred its oil to another tanker near Galveston, while tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate. Iran has been trying to evade sanctions and sell its oil abroad, while the US and its allies have been seizing cargoes since 2019. The fate of the Suez Rajan's cargo has become entangled in the wider tensions between the two countries, with Iran warning of retaliation against those involved in offloading the oil. The US Navy has increased its presence in the region, considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships to prevent further seizures by Iran.