Russia’s foreign ministry has accused the United States of “unlawful actions” after US forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in international waters. Moscow said the seizure violates international maritime law and risks further escalating already strained Russia–US relations.In an official statement issued on Thursday, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov called on Washington to respect established principles of international maritime law and immediately halt actions against the Marinera and other civilian vessels operating on the high seas. This comes after US forces seized the tanker on January 7.The statement read, “Alongside the US administration’s disregard for the accepted norms of international maritime navigation, Washington’s readiness to provoke acute international crises, including in Russian-American relations, which are already severely strained, is both regrettable and alarming.”According to the ministry, the incident involving the Marinera could lead to a further escalation of military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region and lower the threshold for the use of force against civilian shipping.“The Marinera incident can only lead to a further escalation of military-political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region and a dangerous lowering of the threshold for using force against civilian shipping. Encouraged by Washington’s irresponsible example, other actors may feel emboldened to take similar actions.”The ministry also accused the United Kingdom of involvement, claiming British authorities had openly acknowledged their role in the US military operation in North Atlantic waters.Russia maintained that the Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, had been temporarily authorised to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, in accordance with both Russian and international law. The vessel, it said, was peacefully transiting international waters in the North Atlantic en route to a Russian port.The ministry stressed that US authorities had been repeatedly informed of the tanker’s legal status and civilian nature. “There could have been no doubt regarding this fact, nor any basis for alleging that the tanker was sailing ‘without a flag’ or ‘under a false flag’,” the statement said.Citing international maritime law, Russia argued that only the flag state has jurisdiction over its vessels on the high seas. “International maritime law explicitly grants the flag state exclusive jurisdiction over its vessels on the high seas. Stopping and inspecting a vessel in international waters is permitted only under narrowly defined circumstances, such as suspected piracy or slave trading – neither of which apply to the Marinera. In all other cases, such actions require the consent of the flag state, which in this instance is Russia,” the statement further read.The ministry added that Russia had refused to grant consent and had formally protested to US authorities in recent weeks over the continued pursuit of the vessel by a US Coast Guard ship.Under these circumstances, the ministry said, “the boarding and de facto seizure of a civilian vessel on the high seas by US military personnel, along with the detention of its crew, can only be viewed as a gross violation of fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law and the freedom of navigation.”Russia also raised concerns about the safety of the crew, which includes citizens of several countries, and warned of environmental risks due to the seizure being carried out in severe weather conditions.Rejecting US references to domestic sanctions laws, the Russian foreign ministry said unilateral sanctions imposed by Washington and its allies have no legal foundation under international law and cannot justify the seizure of vessels on the high seas.“Suggestions from certain US officials that the seizure of the Marinera is part of a broader strategy to establish Washington’s unlimited control over Venezuela’s natural resources are profoundly cynical. We categorically reject such neo-colonial ambitions,” the statement added.In a post on social media platform X, the ministry wrote: “We call on Washington to immediately cease its unlawful actions against the Marinera and other vessels engaged in lawful activities on the high seas. We reiterate our demand that the US ensure appropriate treatment of the Russian citizens on board.”

The Transport ministry also condemns seizure

Russia’s transport ministry on Wednesday said that the US had no legal right to use force against a vessel lawfully registered under another country’s jurisdiction.In a statement posted on Telegram, the ministry said the Marinera was boarded by US naval forces in international waters, after which contact with the ship was lost.“In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in high seas waters, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” the statement read.

How did the US seize the tanker?

The seizure followed a weeks-long pursuit by the US Coast Guard. The tanker, originally called Bella 1, had been sanctioned by the US in 2024 for operating as part of a so-called “shadow fleet” transporting illicit oil linked to Iran and Venezuela.Last month, US authorities attempted to seize the vessel while it was operating under the Guyana flag and heading toward Venezuela. The crew refused boarding and abruptly changed course into the Atlantic. The ship was later renamed Marinera and re-registered under the Russian flag.According to US officials, military assets were repositioned to the UK ahead of the operation. The tanker was eventually seized around 190 miles south of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean.US European Command said the operation was carried out under a federal court warrant for violations of US sanctions, with support from multiple US agencies. UK defence officials confirmed they assisted the US following a request for help.

Iran has imposed sweeping restrictions on communication, shutting down internet services and telephone lines across large parts of the country as protests against economic hardship intensified on Thursday. There are also concerns that authorities may attempt to interfere with satellite signals to prevent footage of the unrest from reaching the outside world.Amid the clampdown, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi condemned the government’s actions, accusing it of deliberately silencing millions of Iranians demanding political and economic change. “Millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication. It has shut down the Internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals,” Pahlavi wrote, in a strongly worded post on X.Pahlavi accused the Iranian regime of trying to silence millions of citizens who took to the streets demanding freedom amid worsening economic conditions. He urged the international community to act decisively, calling for the use of “all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources available to restore communication to the Iranian people so that their voice and their will can be heard and seen.”Pahlavi praises Trump, urges Europe to actPahlavi publicly thanked US President Donald Trump for what he described as a firm stance against the Iranian leadership, and called on European leaders to follow Washington’s lead.“I want to thank the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account. It is time for others, including European leaders, to follow his lead, break their silence, and act more decisively in support of the people of Iran,” he said.Trump warns Tehran against killing protestersTrump issued a sharp warning to Iran’s leadership, threatening severe consequences if security forces use deadly force against protesters.“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots — they have lots of riots — if they do it, we are going to hit them very hard,” Trump said during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.In a separate post on Truth Social earlier, Trump wrote: “If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”Trump did not specify what actions Washington might take, though the United States has long imposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran and has historically avoided direct military intervention. However, he ordered airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.US officials voice support for IraniansUS vice president JD Vance reiterated Washington’s support for peaceful protesters, saying the United States stands by those seeking basic freedoms.“We certainly stand by anybody who’s engaged in peaceful protests, anybody who’s trying to exert their rights for free association and to have their voices heard,” Vance said, adding that Iran’s leadership should pursue serious negotiations with the US over its nuclear programme.Meanwhile, the US State Department issued an unusually blunt warning in Persian on its official X account, aimed directly at Iran’s leadership. “President Trump is a man of action. If you didn’t know before, now you do. Don’t mess with President Trump,” the post on X read.Protests spread nationwide The unrest, which began on 28 December, was initially sparked by shopkeepers in Tehran protesting another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial. The currency has hit record lows over the past year, with inflation soaring to around 40 percent as sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme compound long-standing issues of mismanagement and corruption.University students soon joined the demonstrations, which spread rapidly across provinces. Protesters have been heard chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and in some cases expressing support for Reza Pahlavi.According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency, protests have erupted in 111 cities and towns across all 31 provinces. The group reported that at least 34 protesters and four security personnel were killed, with more than 2,200 arrests.BBC Persian confirmed the deaths and identities of 21 people, while Iranian authorities acknowledged the deaths of five security personnel.The current wave of unrest is the largest seen in Iran since 2022 and comes amid a deepening economic crisis, currency collapse and growing civil disobedience. Violent clashes between protesters and security forces have been reported in multiple locations, with videos circulating online showing gunfire, tear gas and stone-throwing.As communication blackouts tighten and international pressure mounts, the situation inside Iran remains volatile, with no clear indication of how the standoff between protesters and the regime will unfold.

Top stocks to buy (AI image)

Stock market recommendations: According to Bajaj Broking Research, the top stock picks for January 9, 2026 are Hindustan Unilever, and Tata Power. Here’s its view on Nifty and Bank Nifty:Index View: NiftyDomestic equity benchmarks witnessed a sharp correction over the last four sessions, giving up the entirety of last week’s gains as relentless FII outflows continued. The sell-off was fueled by escalating global uncertainties, particularly speculation over possible US military action in Venezuela and evolving developments related to Greenland. Market sentiment weakened further following comments by the US President on India’s procurement of Russian oil, which raised apprehensions about potential tariff actions against India. These combined global and trade-related concerns led to heightened risk aversion across markets.The index on Thursday’s session formed a sizable bearish candle with a lower high and a lower low, indicating an extension of the corrective decline for the fourth consecutive session. In the process, it also slipped below the rising trendline connecting recent swing lows and the 50-day EMA for the first time since 3 October 2025, highlighting a deterioration in short-term price structure.Looking ahead, sustained follow-through weakness could open further downside towards the 25,700–25,600 region. This zone represents a confluence of the previous month’s low and the 100-day EMA, making it an important medium-term support area.On the shorter-term horizon, momentum indicators suggest the market is in an oversold territory. Therefore, a technical pullback cannot be ruled out. However, for the corrective decline to pause, the index must close above the previous session’s high and decisively reclaim the 26,100 level. While key resistance remains at the 26,300 levels being the almost identical highs of the last two months.BANK NIFTYBank Nifty continues to outperform the Nifty, displaying clear relative strength during the current week it has rallied to a fresh all-time high of 60437. Going forward, the index is expected to remain in a consolidation phase within the 59,500–60,400 range. A decisive breakout above this range or a breakdown below it will provide clarity on the next directional move.On the downside, immediate support is seen at 59,500, while the key short-term support zone lies at 59,000–58,700. This area is significant as it represents a confluence of the 50-day EMA and the previous month’s low, making it a crucial level to watch.

Stock Recommendations:

Hindustan UnileverBuy in the range of Rs 2360-2390

The stock has generated a breakout above a falling trendline joining highs of the last 2 months signaling resumption of up move and offers fresh entry opportunity.On the downside key support is placed at 2300-2250 levels being the presence of recent trendline support and key retracement of the recent up move.We expect the stock to head towards 2520 levels being the 61.8% retracement of the previous major decline (2667-2245).Tata PowerBuy in the range of Rs 368-375

Tata Power continues to trade sideways on the daily timeframe, oscillating within a well-defined range of ₹370–₹410. The stock is currently forming a rectangle pattern, with consistent buying support emerging near the ₹370 zone.We expect the stock to rebound taking support at the lower band of the range of 370 and head higher towards the upper band of the range placed around 410 levels.On the lower side key support is placed at 355-350 levels being the key retracement of the recent up move.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)