Iran Warns US: Seize Oil Tankers at Own Risk

An Iranian security official has issued an explicit warning to Washington, stating that any attempt to revive the 'prize courts' mechanism to seize Iranian oil tankers and confiscate their cargoes would trigger swift and serious Iranian retaliation against U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf.

The warning came after U.S. media reported that the U.S. Department of Justice is working to revive the 'prize courts,' an old legal mechanism used for centuries during naval wars but largely disused since World War II.

The security official stressed that if Washington uses this mechanism, it must be prepared for reciprocal action from Iran, which includes targeting U.S. interests in shipping, energy, insurance, financing, and related infrastructure in the region.