KEY POINTS

The oil tanker was carrying sanctioned oil from Iran and Venezuela to Cuba.

Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of seeking control over their natural resources.

The seizure comes as the U.S. has significantly increased military presence in the Caribbean against Venezuela.

After President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. military had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, its government called the move “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”

Trump confirmed the seizure of the tanker on Wednesday, telling reporters: “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually,” according to Time.

The president added that the seizure was for a “very good reason.”

What we know about the seizure

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