Why it matters:
Venezuela’s economy is heavily dependent on oil, and any new restrictions would directly hit the Maduro government’s primary revenue source.
Targeting members of Maduro’s family shows a shift toward pressuring his inner circle.
The big picture:
The U.S. government has announced fresh sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector and three nephews of Maduro’s wife.
Meanwhile, Washington is exploring legal grounds to confiscate the oil cargo aboard the Skipper, a tanker seized in international waters near Venezuela carrying roughly $78 million of crude owned by a state-run Venezuelan company.
The New York Times reports that years of U.S. sanctions have pushed the Maduro government toward selling and smuggling oil through a network of tankers and intermediaries.
Trump has framed these actions as part of his campaign to destabilize Maduro’s government, again accusing him of running a “drug cartel.”
Key points:
- The U.S. is pursuing legal steps to confiscate the seized oil cargo.
- Six shipping companies tied to Venezuelan oil transport have been sanctioned.
- Economic pressure on Caracas is likely to intensify.
Go deeper:
"Imperialist Wars Are Enough": Maduro
Neda Sajjadi - ahmad shirzadian
