The United States confiscated a cargo of Iranian oil that had been stored aboard a Russian ship near Greece. The cargo will be sent to the United States aboard another ship.

This was reported by Reuters, citing three knowledgeable sources.

Greek authorities last month seized the Iranian-flagged ship Pegas with 19 Russian crew members on board off the coast of the southern island of Evia because of EU sanctions.

The ship was later released because of confusion over sanctions against its owners.

One source at the Greek Ministry of Shipping said Thursday that the U.S. Justice Department "informed Greece that the cargo on the ship was Iranian oil."

"The cargo has been moved to another U.S.-hired vessel," the source added, without giving details.