WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it was prepared to "pause" sanctions relief for OPEC member Venezuela in coming days unless there is further progress on the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans.
Any “snapback” of partially lifted U.S. sanctions would mark a major shift from President Joe Biden's new approach toward Venezuela.
In the most significant lifting of tough Trump-era sanctions, Washington issued a six-month general license authorizing U.S. transactions with Venezuela’s vital oil and gas sector and a second license authorizing operations of state gold mining company Minerven.
Washington had vowed to reverse that sanctions relief unless the Venezuela's Socialist government took steps by the end of November to release political prisoners and three Americans it considers unlawfully jailed, and also lift public-office bans on opposition candidates.
The Venezuelan government released five political prisoners in October but there have been no releases since.
Persons:
Nicolas Maduro, John Kirby, Joe Biden's, Washington, “, ” Kirby, ”, we're, Kirby, Maria Corina Machado, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Mayela Armas, Daniel Wallis
Organizations:
Venezuelan, White House, Trump, Socialist, Thomson
Locations:
Venezuela, Venezuelan, Maduro, Washington, U.S, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Caracas