US imposes sanctions on Venezuelan FM

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.

Arreaza has also served as the country's vice minister for the ministry for science, technology, and intermediate industries, executive vice president and minister of the ecological mining development.

The move comes as the U.S. continues to ramp up financial pressure on Venezuela and its regional allies.

The sanctions are part of Washington's efforts to place economic pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as Washington has moved to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's president.

The Treasury Department also placed sanctions on Carol Padilla, a special court judge, for her role as an official in Venezuela's government.

"Treasury will continue to target corrupt Maduro insiders, including those tasked with conducting diplomacy and carrying out justice on behalf of this illegitimate regime," the agency said in a statement.