The United States has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA.
The move is aimed at taking control of the country's oil wealth away from embattled President Nicolas Maduro.
"….Today's designation of PDVSA will help prevent further diversion of Venezuela's assets by Maduro and we'll preserve these assets for the people of Venezuela where they belong."
The sanctions come less than a week after President Trump declared Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate leader.
National Security Adviser John Bolton, meanwhile, warned Maduro's government would face what he called a "significant response" if any harm came to U.S. diplomatic staff, Guaido, or Venezuela's National Assembly.
Bolton refused to specify if that meant military action.
