WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2019) The United States imposed new sanctions on Venezuela, targeting four companies and nine ships involved in transporting oil for the country, the Treasury Department said in a statement on Friday.
The sanctions targeted three companies in Liberia - Jennifer Navigation Limited, Large Range Limited and Lima Shipping Corporation - and a fourth firm in Italy, PBS Tankers. Nine ships linked to the four firms were also included in the new designations, the Treasury said.
"We continue to target companies that transport Venezuelan oil to Cuba, as they are profiting while the Maduro regime pillages natural resources," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement. "Venezuela's oil belongs to the Venezuelan people, and should not be used as a bargaining tool to prop up dictators and prolong oppression."
The US has repeatedly sanctioned the government of President Nicolas Maduro in a campaign to back self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido to oust Maduro.
The United States and 54 countries recognize Guaido, while Russia, China, Bolivia, Turkey and numerous other countries recognize Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president.
Maduro has called Guaido a puppet of the United States and has accused Washington of trying to orchestrate a coup in Venezuela to replace the country's legitimate government and claim its resources.
