<p>The United States has seized the cargo on four tankers allegedly loaded with Iranian gasoline destined for Venezuela, the Wall Street Journal reported.</p>.<p>The US Justice Department issued a warrant last month to seize the cargo of the tankers Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna, tying the shipments to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has labelled a terror group.</p>.<p>The four ships were seized at sea and were now en route to Houston, Texas, the Journal reported Thursday, citing US officials.</p>.<p>The US court complaint says that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour, who allegedly had links to the Revolutionary Guards, arranged shipments for Venezuela using offshore front companies and ship-to-ship transfers to avoid sanctions on Iran.</p>.<p>Iran's ambassador to Venezuela said reports that Iranian tankers had been seized were "yet another lie and psychological warfare" by the United States.</p>.<p>"The ships are not Iranian, and neither the owner nor its flag has anything to do with Iran," Hojat Soltani said on Twitter in Spanish.</p>.<p>Venezuela is almost entirely dependent on its oil revenues but its production has fallen to roughly a quarter of its 2008 level and its economy has been devastated by six years of recession.</p>.<p>Washington's sanctions against President Nicolas Maduro's regime have forced Venezuela, which used to refine enough oil for its own needs, to turn to allies such as US nemesis Iran to alleviate a desperate gasoline shortage.</p>.<p>Iran sent several tankers of gasoline to Venezuela earlier this year to help ease shortages.</p>
<p>The United States has seized the cargo on four tankers allegedly loaded with Iranian gasoline destined for Venezuela, the Wall Street Journal reported.</p>.<p>The US Justice Department issued a warrant last month to seize the cargo of the tankers Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna, tying the shipments to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has labelled a terror group.</p>.<p>The four ships were seized at sea and were now en route to Houston, Texas, the Journal reported Thursday, citing US officials.</p>.<p>The US court complaint says that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour, who allegedly had links to the Revolutionary Guards, arranged shipments for Venezuela using offshore front companies and ship-to-ship transfers to avoid sanctions on Iran.</p>.<p>Iran's ambassador to Venezuela said reports that Iranian tankers had been seized were "yet another lie and psychological warfare" by the United States.</p>.<p>"The ships are not Iranian, and neither the owner nor its flag has anything to do with Iran," Hojat Soltani said on Twitter in Spanish.</p>.<p>Venezuela is almost entirely dependent on its oil revenues but its production has fallen to roughly a quarter of its 2008 level and its economy has been devastated by six years of recession.</p>.<p>Washington's sanctions against President Nicolas Maduro's regime have forced Venezuela, which used to refine enough oil for its own needs, to turn to allies such as US nemesis Iran to alleviate a desperate gasoline shortage.</p>.<p>Iran sent several tankers of gasoline to Venezuela earlier this year to help ease shortages.</p>