The United States blacklisted four shipping companies and nine vessels, for transporting oil from Venezuela.
The U.S. Treasury identified the firms as Liberia-based Jennifer Navigation Ltd, Lima Shipping Corp and Large Range Ltd, and Italy-based PB Tankers S.P.A.
It blacklisted one tanker belonging to each of the Liberian firms and six owned by the Italian firm.
A Treasury statement said Venezuela’s oil sector continued “to provide a lifeline to the illegitimate regime” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement that “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 sanctions prohibit dealings with the firms by U.S. citizens and block the companies’ financial interests in the United States.
A week ago, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 34 vessels owned or operated by Venezuelan state-run oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A, or PDVSA, and also on two companies and a vessel that delivered oil to Cuba in February and March.
The United States and most Western nations have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the rightful president of Venezuela.
Via Reuters/ U.S. Treasury
