US sanctions Venezuelan state oil firm, escalating pressure on Maduro
The Trump administration on Monday imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil firm PDVSA, the toughest US financial challenge yet to the country's embattled socialist president, Nicolas Maduro.
The sanctions ratchet up pressure against Maduro to step aside and turn over power to Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who proclaimed himself interim president last week and was immediately recognized by the United States and a host of other countries.
