UK Provides Support to US Seizure of Bella 1 in Sanctions Enforcement
The United Kingdom has provided enabling support to the United States in the seizure of the oil tanker Bella 1, accused of shadow fleet activity and breaching US Iran sanctions, the UK Ministry of Defence said January 7.
At the request of Washington, British forces offered pre-planned operational support including basing access for US military assets, airborne surveillance by Royal Air Force aircraft, and assistance at sea from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tideforce as the Bella 1 was interdicted in waters between the UK and Iceland.
UK Defence Secretary Comments
Defence Secretary John Healey said UK armed forces showed professionalism supporting the interception of the vessel, which was headed toward Russia. He described the action as part of a global effort to counter sanctions busting and illicit maritime activity.
UK officials said the ship had been sanctioned by the United States under counter-Iran sanctions and had previously operated under a false flag, turned off its transponders, and attempted to re-flag while being pursued. Such behaviour links it to broader shadow fleet networks involved in sanctions evasion.
Sanctions and Shadow Fleet Context
The UK reaffirmed that its support was fully compliant with international law and stressed the importance of coordinated action to disrupt complex networks that move sanctioned oil. Assessments cited by British officials suggest the vessel’s activities have been tied to illegal trade, including links to extremist organisations.
This operation underscores deep defence cooperation between the UK and United States, and follows broader allied efforts to clamp down on so-called shadow fleet operations used to evade sanctions regimes targeting Iran and other states.
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