Trump Brags U.S. Navy Is ‘Like Pirates’ After Seizing Iranian Oil Tankers
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump bragged Friday that the U.S. Navy’s seizure of Iranian oil tankers has become “a very profitable business,” describing American forces as being “like pirates” for confiscating crude cargoes they estimate to be worth “tens of millions of dollars” .
Speaking at an event in Florida, Trump offered a remarkably blunt characterization of the Pentagon’s interdiction campaign, which has escalated since the U.S. imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13 .
“It’s a very profitable business. We’re like pirates.”
— President Donald J. Trump
The president’s comments followed a Pentagon announcement this week that the U.S. had seized an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, the ship’s fourth interdiction in the region in 2026 . The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, has been intercepting vessels suspected of carrying Iranian crude to buyers in Asia, particularly China .
⚓ The ‘Profit’ of Seizures
Trump’s “profitable” phrasing suggests that the administration is not merely interdicting oil to enforce sanctions, but also profiting from it. A senior administration official confirmed this week that the U.S. “may keep and sell the cargoes,” with proceeds “deposited into a fund supporting victims of state-sponsored terrorism” .
Iran has condemned the policy as “state-sanctioned piracy.”
Naval analysts expressed discomfort with Trump’s “pirates” framing, noting that international law permits a nation to enforce a blockade in wartime, but the pirates’ code is based on theft for personal gain, not national security interest.
Russia condemned the U.S. “theft” of Iranian oil, accusing the Trump administration of “economic warfare.”
📈 Metrics of ‘Profitability’
The dollar figures are significant. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the U.S. has seized** 39 ships since the blockade began, with an estimated 69 million barrels of oil valued at over $6 billion**.
Each VLCC, fully loaded, carries approximately 2 million barrels; at current market prices (approx. $115/barrel), a single tanker could be worth up to $230 million.
Trump’s claim that the Navy is “like pirates” is not meant as criticism — it is a boast that the U.S. has found a way to generate revenue from the very sanctions critics said would be ignored.
🏛️ Legal Backlash
The seizures have drawn sharp legal pushback.
The owner of the tanker “M/T Majestic,” which was seized on April 22 in the Indian Ocean, filed a complaint in federal court demanding the return of its cargo. The U.S. Justice Department argued that the cargo was subject to forfeiture under the “terrorism forfeiture” statute, a legal argument that has not yet been fully tested .
European allies have expressed discomfort with the aggressive forfeiture strategy but have not formally objected, as they are not targets of the seizures.
📋 Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Trump’s Statement | “It’s a very profitable business. We’re like pirates.” |
| Number of Ship Seizures | 39 ships since April 13 blockade began |
| Volume Seized | 69 million barrels of oil |
| Estimated Value | Over $6 billion |
| U.S. Legal Justification | Sanctions enforcement and “terrorism forfeiture” |
| Iran’s Reaction | Condemned as “state-sanctioned piracy” |
| Russia’s Reaction | Accused US of “oil theft” |
| Unanswered Question | What happens to the confiscated crude? U.S. may sell it |
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