US to reimpose sanctions against Venezuela: State Department

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US said Tuesday it would impose sanctions following the decision by Venezuela’s Supreme Court of Justice to disqualify Maria Corina Machado, the main opposition candidate in the 2024 presidential elections.

"Absent progress between (President Nicolas) Maduro and his representatives and the opposition Unitary Platform, particularly on allowing all presidential candidates to compete in this year's election, the United States will not renew the license when it expires on April 18, 2024," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, referring to the Treasury license, which allowed for the broad resumption of transactions with Venezuela's oil industry a statement.

"Additionally, the United States is revoking General License 43, which authorized transactions involving Minerven – the Venezuelan state-owned gold mining company," Miller said in a statement. "U.S. persons will have fourteen days to wind down any transactions that were previously authorized by that license."

The head of the Venezuelan government delegation that is in conciliation talks with the opposition warned Monday of a severe response from his country if the US restores sanctions against the energy sector, which were suspended in October for six months.

"We are very attentive to the actions they (the US) take in the coming days that may be considered aggressive towards the right that this country has to live in peace, to progress and to have all unilateral coercive measures lifted,” Jorge Rodriguez said at a news conference.