Trump says US destroys drug dock in Venezuela in what could be first land strike in trafficking campaign
The USS Gravely arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for joint exercises off the coast of Venezuela. Photo: AFP
The United States announced sanctions on Tuesday targeting Iran’s drone trade with Venezuela, a move that comes as Washington steps up a pressure campaign against leftist Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The U.S. Treasury Department has targeted 10 individuals and entities based in Venezuela and Iran over issues including the purchase of Iranian-designed drones, efforts to procure chemicals used for ballistic missiles and other concerns.
“The Treasury Department holds Iran and Venezuela responsible for the aggressive and reckless proliferation of lethal weapons around the world,” said Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley.
“We will continue to take swift action to deny those who allow Iran’s military-industrial complex access to the US financial system,” he added in a statement.
Read more: Venezuela passes law to jail supporters of US oil blockade
The sanctions were unveiled as President Donald Trump’s administration ramped up pressure on Maduro, who has accused the US leader of seeking regime change.
Trump said on Monday that the United States had struck and destroyed a docking area for suspected Venezuelan drug boats, in what could amount to the first land strike of the military’s anti-trafficking campaign from Latin America.
The U.S. Treasury Department said its latest action builds on its nonproliferation designations, supporting the reimposition of U.N. sanctions and other restrictions on Iran.
It said Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle and missile programs “threaten U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and destabilize commercial shipping in the Red Sea.”
Among those affected is the Venezuelan company Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA and its headquarters, which the US Treasury Department said had acquired Iranian-designed drones.
“Iran’s continued supply of conventional arms to Caracas poses a threat to US interests in our region,” State Department spokesman Thomas Piggott said in a separate statement.
He said the Venezuelan company “contributed to the sale of combat drones worth millions of dollars.”
“The entities and individuals designated today demonstrate that Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missile-related items in violation of UN restrictions,” he added.
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