Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has lashed out at US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who has said that pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by her office, US forces will continue interdicting Iranian oil tankers.

“This is the outright legalisation of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas,” Baghaei has said on X. “Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder ‘law enforcement’.”

The spokesperson says that the US must be held “fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behaviour”, which attacks international law and free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security.