The U.S. imposed new sanctions on relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and seized a tanker carrying sanctioned oil, escalating tensions as Washington accuses Caracas of narco-trafficking and piracy.
00:00The United States has imposed new sanctions on relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and companies shipping the country's oil.
00:08Venezuela has condemned the move as international piracy, while the United Nations has urged both sides to exercise restraint.
00:18The US Treasury said it has sanctioned three relatives of Maduro, including nephews of his wife Celia Flores, as well as six companies involved in shipping Venezuelan oil.
00:28Two of the relatives were labeled narco-traffickers, with Treasury Secretary Scott Besson accusing Maduro and his allies of flooding the United States with drugs.
00:38The announcement came as the White House confirmed it will seize the oil from a tanker taken by US forces off Venezuela's coast.
00:46The move comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Maduro, including a naval buildup and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats that have killed dozens of people.
00:55Trump has previously said Maduro's days are numbered, while Caracas insists the US is pursuing regime change to gain control of its fast oil reserves.
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