The United States Coast Guard, supported by the US military, spearheaded an operation in international waters, according to an official report.

On December 10, American forces intercepted and seized a significant oil tanker named the Skipper. This vessel had been under sanctions due to its associations with Iran.

Following the operation, President Donald Trump stated that the US would persist in targeting ships carrying Venezuelan oil. He also declared a “blockade” aimed at sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country.

President Donald Trump said afterward the US would continue to go after vessels transporting Venezuelan oil.

And he announced this week a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of the country.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the vessel seized Saturday was under sanctions.

The Coast Guard referred questions on the operation to the White House, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Combined with Trump’s threats of land strikes on Venezuelan soil, the seizures of vessels have ratcheted up pressure on Caracas by going after its economic lifeline, which had already come under strain after new sanctions on the oil sector earlier this year.

The US is now months into its pressure campaign on Venezuela that has included moving thousands of troops and a carrier strike group into the Caribbean, strikes on suspected drug boats and repeated threats against President Nicolas Maduro.

The US military has killed 104 people in strikes that have destroyed 29 alleged drug boats, attacks that the Trump administration has sold as an effort to crack down on illegal flows of drugs and migrants from Venezuela.

But its actions have also pointed to a sweeping pressure campaign on Maduro — whose ouster White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has suggested is the administration’s real goal.

Trump’s announcement this week of a “blockade” also underscored the president’s focus on the country’s oil, which he has said the US should have access to if Maduro is ousted. State-owned Petroleos de Venezuela controls the country’s petroleum industry.

Houston-based Chevron is the only US firm drilling in Venezuela and pays a percentage of its output to PDVSA under a sanctions carve-out.

Venezuela’s oil reserves are the world’s largest but operate well below capacity due to international sanctions.

Much of the country’s oil is sold to China.

Venezuela slammed the blockade earlier this week, calling it “a reckless and serious threat.”

It said it would continue to defend its sovereignty and national interests.