Moscow, Jan. 8 -- A senior Russian lawmaker issued a stern warning to Washington following the US military seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic Ocean, asserting Moscow's intention to use nuclear weapons and suggesting attacks on US vessels in response to the seizure of the tanker on Wednesday.

Alexei Zhuravlev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defence in Russia and a senior member of Russia's parliament, called the January 7 interdiction of the tanker Marinera--formerly the Bella 1--by US forces "outright piracy" and equated it to an attack on Russian territory since the vessel was flying the Russian flag.

In a forceful statement on Telegram, Zhuravlev said Moscow should "respond militarily",...