U.S. Starts Venezuela Oil Sales With Proceeds Kept in American Accounts
The White House will brief U.S. oil executives this week on a plan that centralizes control of Venezuelan crude flows and revenue.
Overview
- The Department of Energy said sales of Venezuelan crude and fuels begin immediately and will continue for an indefinite period at market prices.
- Oil held on storage vessels will be shipped directly to U.S. discharge terminals, totaling roughly two months of Venezuela’s current output.
- All proceeds will be deposited first into U.S.-controlled bank accounts for distribution at the discretion of the U.S. government for the benefit of Americans and Venezuelans.
- U.S. forces seized a loaded tanker in the Caribbean and detained an empty Russian‑flagged vessel linked to Venezuela in the Atlantic as part of enforcement actions.
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said U.S. authorities will direct decisions by Venezuela’s interim leadership, while President Trump signals opening the sector to major American companies to repair damaged infrastructure.