BREAKING: Trump Says US Navy Acting ‘Like Pirates’ in Seizure of Iranian Oil Tankers

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According to a report by Fox News on Saturday, May 2, 2026, In the wake of the seizure of Iranian oil tankers, President Trump has come under fire for comparing US naval actions against Iranian boats to piracy.

During his remarks on Friday, Trump detailed a recent operation in which American forces apprehended an Iranian vessel and the crude oil it carried. We seized control of the vessel, its cargo, and its oil. According to him, it’s a highly lucrative enterprise. We resemble buccaneers. Despite our pirate-like appearance, we are not joking.

Iranian authorities have condemned the activities as breaches of international law, further straining relations between Washington and Tehran, which were already tense before the remarks. By imposing its unilateral sanctions at sea, the US, according to Tehran, is essentially legitimising piracy.

American authorities claim that tankers like the M/T Majestic (formerly the M/T Phoenix) and the M/T Tifani were among the captured ships. They were purportedly apprehended in the Indian Ocean. The reported cargo for each ship included about 1.9 million barrels of crude oil from Iran.

The United States government insists that the seizures occurred in accordance with federal court orders that were linked to the sanctions it has imposed on Iran. But Iranian officials have shot down such reasoning, saying it amounts to illegally interfering with international maritime traffic.

Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, characterised the activities as “the outright legalisation of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas.” He went on to say that the US should face consequences because these acts threaten international marine security and commerce standards.

These events have occurred at a time when tensions are already high due to the escalation of hostilities between Israel, Iran, and the US earlier this year.

On February 28, when American and Israeli forces attacked Iranian sites in unison, Tehran attacked US allies and military installations in the region in retaliation. This sparked hostilities.

International oil prices rose sharply after Iran closed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit route.

Pakistan mediated a temporary truce that went into force on April 8, but talks in Islamabad did not lead to a permanent deal. Tensions have remained high and diplomatic efforts have stalled since then.