Author: BlackMask Financial

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Homeland Security confirmed seizing another oil tanker

  • The US launched large-scale airstrikes on more than 70 targets across Syria, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s vow to strike back after the killing of two US soldiers.
  • The Pentagon said US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces.
  • The strikes were carried out by fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery, with support from the Jordanian Armed Forces, and targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapon sites.

The US launched large-scale airstrikes on more than 70 targets across Syria, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s vow to strike back after the killing of two US soldiers. “This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a post on X. “Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.”

The US Central Command said that fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery targeted ISIS infrastructure and weapon sites. “All terrorists who are evil enough to attack Americans are hereby warned — YOU WILL BE HIT HARDER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN HIT BEFORE IF YOU, IN ANY WAY, ATTACK OR THREATEN THE U.S.A.,” Trump wrote in a social media post, adding that the Syrian government is “fully in support” of the US operation. Trump had earlier promised to do “big damage” to the militants behind the deadly attack on American forces in Syria that he blamed on the Islamic State group. US Central Command released unusually detailed imagery of the weapons systems used in the attacks that indicated coordinated strikes by the US Air Force and Army. The images depicted Boeing Co.. F-15E Strike Eagle jets dropping GBU-31 GPS-guided munitions, Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters that can fire Hellfire laser-guided weapons and Lockheed Martin Corp. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rockey Systems, like those used in Ukraine, that fire an array of GPS-guided rockets. The Jordanian Armed Forces also supported the operation with fighter aircraft. Last Saturday, two US Army soldiers, along with a US interpreter, were killed in the attack in the Syrian city of Palmyra during counterterrorism operations. The gunman was killed, according to US Central Command. Syria’s state-run Sana news agency reported Sunday that security forces arrested five suspects in relation to the attack. Trump also has taken pains to emphasize the attack was the work of the Islamic State — not Syria’s new government. Palmyra is outside the control of Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has promised to join a US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State. With the strikes on Friday, Trump has now launched major military actions at least three times – against Houthi rebels in Yemen, on Iran’s nuclear program and targeting alleged narcotics-traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Separately, his administration has also kept up a counterterrorism campaign against al-Shabab militants in Somalia.

NN: Does this sound like peace to you?
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US confirms another seizure of tanker off Venezuela

The United States Department of Homeland Security confirmed earlier reports of seizing another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. According to the department, the operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard and the Department of Defense. It identified the seized vessel as Motor Tanker Centuries, suspecting it of transporting sanctioned oil. “The iron fist of America’s joint military and federal law enforcement rules the waves,” the department concluded in a post on X. The seizure comes as tensions with Venezuela continue to grow.

NN: Maduro is toast. And oil supplies will be disrupted like never seen before

 

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Netanyahu may brief Trump on possible new Iran strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could inform United States President Donald Trump about plans to launch fresh strikes on Iran, as Israel is concerned that Tehran is boosting its ballistic missile production, NBC reported on Saturday, citing a person familiar with the plans and four former US officials also briefed on the plans.

Israel is also alarmed by information suggesting that Iran is rebuilding its uranium enrichment facilities, which the US bombed in June, according to the report.

Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump in the US at the end of the month and present him with options for Washington to join any future actions against Tehran, arguing that Iran’s latest actions pose a threat not only to Israel but to the entire Middle East region, the sources said

NN:  Its war and Israel damn well Knows it
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Rubio: US doesn’t consider Maduro legitimate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Washington does not consider Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a legitimate leader, arguing that his government poses a “direct threat” to US “national interests and regional stability.” Speaking to reporters, Rubio described the Maduro administration as an “illegitimate regime”, claiming that it cooperates with Iran, Hezbollah and drug trafficking networks. He even said armed groups such as the ELN and dissident factions of the FARC operate openly inside Venezuelan territory, sometimes controlling entire areas. Rubio stressed that allegations of narco-trafficking are not based on intelligence assessments alone, noting that a federal grand jury in New York issued indictments against Maduro and members of his government. According to Rubio, Venezuela’s crisis has triggered one of the largest migration waves in modern history, destabilizing the wider region.

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Trump: there will be additional seizures of Venezuela oil tankers

United States President Donald Trump did not rule out that his country will go to war with Venezuela in a phone interview with NBC News on Thursday, stating that while he is not discussing it currently, it is a possibility. Trump also declined to confirm whether ousting his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, is his goal, but claimed that the Venezuelan president “knows exactly what I want.”

He also stated that there will be additional seizures of oil tankers.

The US president’s comments follow his order for a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers that are coming and going from Venezuela, with Trump claiming that the South American country “illegally took” the United States’ oil and energy rights.

NN: Trump is not screwing around  here
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US sanctions 29 shadow fleet vessels tied to Iran

The United States Department of State announced on Thursday that it is adding 29 “shadow fleet vessels” to its sanctions list, over their alleged engagement in the “covert delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil and petroleum products.” As per a statement, among the sanctioned entities are companies and vessels operated by Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr, an Egyptian businessman, alongside other firms operating in the United Arab Emirates, India, the Marshall Islands, and Panama. The US government said that today’s decision will further constrain Tehran’s “ability to export petroleum and petroleum products through obscure and fraudulent mechanisms.”

NN: “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2025

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Increases Pressure on Iran’s Sanctions-Evading Shadow Fleet

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on 29 vessels and their associated management firms involved in the illicit transport of Iranian petroleum products. These vessels have been using deceptive practices to evade sanctions and facilitate the export of Iranian oil. In addition, Egyptian businessman Hatem Elsaid Farid Ibrahim Sakr has been designated for his role in coordinating the activities of multiple sanctioned vessels.

‘Treasury will continue to deprive the Iranian regime of the petroleum revenue it uses to fund its military and weapons programs,’ said Under Secretary John K. Hurley. ‘We remain committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and will use all available tools to disrupt these illicit networks.’

This action is part of the broader strategy to limit Iran’s ability to fund destabilizing activities and support for terrorism through its oil revenues. Effective immediately, all U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the designated entities, and any assets of these entities within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked.”

That’s the official Treasury press release for you. I have included  a link below:

!U.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Department of the Treasury

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Oil Prices Surge: Trump Orders Blockade of Venezuelan Tankers….White House Chief Reveals Regime Change Goal in Bombshell Interview

  • Trump’s announcement of a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan tankers pushed WTI crude up more than 2.4%, reflecting heightened geopolitical risk premiums.
  • The move could ultimately disrupt a sizable share of Venezuela’s exports, cutting into global supply.
  • Despite the escalation, broader bearish forces, including weak Chinese demand and optimism surrounding Ukraine peace talks, are likely to limit any rally.

More than 11 million barrels of Venezuelan crude are currently stranded on vessels waiting to leave as traders haggle over terms. Buyers are reportedly using their leverage—bolstered by easy access to cheap Russian and Iranian oil—to force PDVSA to drop its requirement for prepayment in digital currency. Adding to the chaos, PDVSA’s administrative systems were hit by a cyberattack this week, forcing a temporary suspension of deliveries at its terminals. Amid the paralysis, only one operator appears immune: Chevron. LSEG data confirms the Chevron-chartered tanker Ionic Anax set sail for the U.S. on Tuesday without issue, highlighting that the U.S. major remains the sole entity moving crude out of Venezuela without delay. President Donald Trump escalated his pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro on Thursday, ordering a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. In a dramatic statement posted to social media, Trump accused the Venezuelan government of “drug terrorism,” “human trafficking,” and the theft of U.S. assets, while declaring the Maduro regime a foreign terrorist organization. The directive follows the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan-linked tanker in the Caribbean earlier this month—an operation Trump described as “the largest one ever seized.” The move marks a significant shift in Washington’s strategy. Rather than solely pressuring Maduro to step down, the administration is now targeting the legal and structural foundations of Venezuela’s oil sector, including its historic 1943 Hydrocarbons Law, which enshrined national control over oil resources. Analysts say Trump’s escalation comes at a moment of relatively low global oil prices, reducing the risk of market disruption and giving the White House confidence that tightening enforcement will not spark an energy shock. Venezuela’s production has already fallen to a seven-month low amid tanker seizures and sanctions targeting shipping firms assisting PDVSA’s exports.

China—Venezuela’s largest oil customer—has sharply increased crude stockpiles this fall, a move analysts see as a buffer against U.S. enforcement actions. Beijing condemned Washington’s tanker seizure as “international piracy” and warned that U.S. military activity near Venezuela threatens both regional stability and China’s long-standing investments there. While avoiding direct involvement in the incident, China remains deeply exposed: roughly 80% of Venezuela’s exports ultimately feed Chinese refiners through sanction-evading routes. Beijing is expected to continue offering economic and diplomatic backing to Caracas while keeping its distance from any military confrontation.

White House Chief Reveals Regime Change Goal in Bombshell Interview

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles confirmed that President Trump’s escalating naval campaign off the coast of Venezuela is designed to force President Nicolás Maduro from power, telling Vanity Fair in a profile published on Tuesday that the strategy is to “keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.” The admission contradicts the administration’s official diplomatic stance, which has framed the recent blockade of oil tankers and strikes on vessels as strictly “counternarcotics” operations aimed at stemming the flow of illicit drugs.  Wiles detailed a November 4 Oval Office meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio where the agenda was explicitly focused on “forcing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from power.” Trumps  comments suggest the “total blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers announced today is likely to remain the administration’s primary lever for pressure, keeping the conflict offshore to avoid a clash with Capitol Hill while tightening the economic noose around the nation’s oil-dependent economy.

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Oil extends losses, WTI falls 2.7%

Crude oil prices extended their losses on Tuesday, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropping by more than 2.7% to its lowest level since April, and briefly falling below the $55 mark. Traders digested the latest comments by United States President Donald Trump, who said that peace in Ukraine is “closer now” than ever before. His comments were echoed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who claimed that the negotiators are “on the verge of resolving this terrible crisis.” Russian President Vladimir Putin also extended the ban on deliveries of his country’s oil and petroleum products to buyers that comply with the Western-imposed price cap, setting the new date to June 30, 2026.WTI for January’s deliveries fell by 2.79% at 10:30 am ET to $55.03 per barrel. At the same time, Brent for February’s settlements dropped 2.58% to $58.80 per barrel.

NN: I am a buyer
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Trump confirms he spoke to Putin…… Kremlin denies Trump had phone call with Putin

United States President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, amid diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. The US president did not share further details about his conversation with Putin, but reiterated that the latter leader also wants the war to end. At the same time, Trump remained optimistic about the progress made in negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and European countries that concluded in Berlin earlier today.

Kremlin denies Trump had phone call with Putin

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not spoken by phone to United States President Donald Trump since October 16. Trump claimed yesterday that he had a phone call with Putin, but did not share any details. Peskov also commented on the possibility of a Christmas ceasefire with Ukraine, stating that Russia wants a peace deal, not “a ceasefire to give Ukraine a respite and prepare for the continuation of the war.” Following talks between the US, Ukraine and its European allies over the weekend, Peskov said that Moscow has not received any new proposals but that it will analyze any new documents as it gets them.

NN: Bogus comes to mind. Their is one issue Donbas which Russia has tried for 2 years to take. And i do not believe they can take this key strategic area. And i Believe this issue will stop any peace deal. Its a big bet and i could be wrong 
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EU Targets Russia’s Oil Shadow Fleet With New Sanctions

The European Union on Monday slapped sanctions on nine entities and individuals for supporting Russia’s shadow fleet moving oil, as the bloc seeks to further restrict Moscow’s ability to generate revenues from energy exports.    The Council of the EU sanctioned five individuals and four entities responsible for supporting Russia’s shadow fleet and its value chain.     The designated individuals are businessmen directly or indirectly linked to Rosneft and Lukoil, which were sanctioned by the United States in October as the White House sought to force the Kremlin to sit down for talks on ending the war in Ukraine.  The individuals sanctioned by the EU today are all involved in an economic sector providing a substantial source of revenue to Russia’s government, the EU said. They also “control vessels transporting crude oil or petroleum products, originating in Russia or being exported from Russia, concealing the actual origin of the oil, while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices,” the bloc noted in a press statement.  The sanctioned individuals are Murtaza Lakhani, a Canadian-Pakistani oil trader, Valery Kildiyarov, finance director of Lukoil’s Litasco Middle East DMCC, and Anar Madatli, Talat Safarov, and Etibar Eyyub—shareholders and/or directors of 2Rivers Group, a UAE based oil-trading company previously known as Coral Energy. The four entities included in the new sanctions are all shipping companies based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Vietnam, and Russia. These firms either own or manage tankers blacklisted by the EU or by other countries for being part of Russia’s shadow fleet.  UAE-based Nova Shipmanagement LLC-FZ and Citrine Marine SPC, Vietnam-registered Hung Phat Maritime Trading, and Russia-based SeverTransBunker Company Limited are the companies designated by the EU today.  The fresh EU sanctions come amid still chaotic trade with Russian crude after the U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil upended the buying plans and patterns of most Indian refiners. Meanwhile, falling oil prices and strengthening Russian currency are set to slash Russia’s oil and gas revenues by nearly 50% in December from a year earlier, to the lowest level since August 2020, according to Reuters calculations.

NN: See special report titled: The Shadow Knows in BlackMask Market News and Commentary.