Bloomberg reported in a new report that nearly 978 tankers are operating in the so-called “dark fleet,” a network that supports oil exports from Iran, Venezuela and Russia and accounts for about 19 percent of the global fleet. The data comes as a large tanker was seized near Venezuela, which was previously under U.S. sanctions for its involvement in transporting Iranian oil.

Venezuela, having the world's largest proven oil reserves, is under US sanctions, resulting in difficult economic conditions. Of course, since last year, the Biden government reduced some of these oil sanctions on the condition of holding free elections. Now and after the recent events, there is a possibility that the Biden administration, fearing the increase in oil prices, instead of sanctioning this sector, will resort to sanctions similar to Iran, i.e. individuals and governmental institutions.

The Biden administration and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government are expected to announce a deal on Tuesday that would ease U.S. sanctions on Caracas' oil industry while opening up Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, the Washington Post reported on Monday.