U.S. Eyes 18th-Century Law to Seize and Sell Iranian Oil
By ZeroHedge - Aug 29, 2026, 11:00 AM CDT
The U.S. is considering reviving centuries-old “prize law” to seize ownership of Iranian ships and oil captured during its blockade, potentially replacing slower civil forfeiture proceedings.
Captured oil and vessels could be sold with proceeds flowing to the U.S. Treasury, turning maritime seizures into another source of economic pressure on Tehran.
The strategy faces major legal and geopolitical risks, from questions over wartime authority to fears that China or other rivals could eventually use the same precedent against U.S. shipping.
The US government is exploring an unusual legal route for dealing with Iranian oil and ships captured as part of its blockade: bringing back a wartime maritime system that has barely been used for generations, according to Bloomberg.
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/US-Eyes-18th-Century-Law-to-Seize-and-Sell-Iranian-Oil.html
