France seizes sanctions-evading Russian oil tanker 'Tagore'... Suspicion of involvement with Iranian oil magnate

The French Navy has seized another Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker operating in the Atlantic Ocean to evade international sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on the 1st (local time) in a post posted on

President Macron wrote, "This operation was carried out in the high seas of the Atlantic with the support of several partner countries, including the United Kingdom. It is unacceptable for these ships to evade international sanctions and raise war funds for Russia."

According to the Atlantic Maritime Administration, the Tagore, which departed Murmansk, Russia, was intercepted at sea about 400 nautical miles (740 km) west of the Brittany Peninsula in France while heading to Cameroon, Africa, AFP reported.

The Tagore was flying the Cameroonian flag when it was captured, but was flying the Madagascar flag a week ago when it last sent a position signal, according to the Maritime Traffic website.

The French Navy boarded the ship and conducted an initial investigation, then moved the Tagore to a port in western France for a detailed investigation.

This is the fourth time since September of last year that France has seized an oil tanker belonging to the shadow fleet. Previously, three ships were allowed to depart after their owners paid fines.

The Tagore is suspected of transporting Russian or Iranian crude oil despite international sanctions, and is specifically linked to Iranian oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hussein Shamkhani, AFP reported. Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, Secretary General of Iran's National Security Council and military advisor to the Supreme Leader, who was removed by the United States during the Iran war.

French authorities declined to comment on AFP inquiries about the link between the Tagore and Shamkhani.

Russia criticized France's capture of the Tagore, calling it "an act of piracy."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We consider these measures illegal, bordering on international piracy. We completely disagree with the assertion that these measures are being carried out in full compliance with international law," the Ria Novosti news agency said.

Peskov also added that authorities will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of maritime cargo.