US Revives Ancient Maritime Law to Seize Iranian Oil Tankers

The US Justice Department is reviving an ancient system of maritime law to process the seizure of Iranian oil tankers and cargo. The prize courts, which were common in earlier naval conflicts, have been largely unused since the Spanish-American War and dormant since World War II.

Under this plan, federal prosecutors will have a faster route to claim goods taken from enemy or neutral vessels as US property. Seized cargo could then be sold, with proceeds transferred to the Treasury.

Aaron Reitz, the US attorney in Houston working with the department, confirmed that officials were reviving the courts. However, maritime lawyers and former prosecutors warned that the Justice Department, Navy, and judiciary have little modern experience operating the system.