Venezuelan VP Condemns US for Punishing Millions with Sanctions (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez condemned Washington for punishing millions of people across the world by imposing sanctions on them.
Speaking before the General Assembly on Friday, Rodriguez denounced the recognition of opposition figure Juan Guaido by Washington and called him an “artifice” of the United States, and criticized US sanctions on the country.
“The (US) Treasury Department, the economic Pentagon, is militarizing international relations and punishing millions of people,” she said.
“There is a new type of state terrorism being imposed on the world’s peoples,” Rodriguez said, arguing that US sanctions had cost Venezuela $130 billion between 2015 and 2018.
Venezuela has been struggling under severe economic contraction, hyperinflation, power cuts, and shortages of basic items as a result of the economic sanctions.
The US administration of President Donald Trump, who was very quick to recognize Guaido as “Interim President” in January, also provided him with $52 million in funding.
The US also barred more Venezuelan officials from entry to the United States.
On Friday, the European Union also imposed sanctions on seven security and intelligence officers.
The EU, which has been under growing pressure from Washington to take action against Maduro’s government, also threatened the country with more measures if the Maduro government did not move toward a timetable for presidential elections.
