WASHINGTON

The United States on Monday started reimposing sanctions on Venezuela by limiting its mining sector after the South American nation’s high courtroom upheld the disqualification of an opposition presidential hopeful.

According to an announcement by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, any U.S. corporations doing enterprise with Venezuela state-owned mining concern Minerven have till Feb. 13 to finish a “wind down of transactions” with the corporate.

The transfer follows up on Washington’s weekend warning to Caracas that it may finish some sanctions aid that was granted final yr when Venezuela agreed to a deal for elections in 2024, together with establishing a course of for would-be candidates to problem their disqualification.

On Friday Venezuela’s Supreme Court, loyal to President Nicolas Maduro’s authorities, upheld a 15-year ban on opposition chief Maria Corina Machado and in addition confirmed the ineligibility of her doable substitute, two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

Maduro’s authorities had raised hopes with Washington and others when it reached a deal final yr in Barbados with the Venezuelan opposition to carry a free and honest vote in 2024, with worldwide observers current.

That settlement noticed the United States ease sanctions in opposition to Venezuela, permitting U.S.-based Chevron to renew restricted oil extraction and main the way in which to a prisoner swap.

But Washington’s reimposition of some sanctions suggests it’s displeased with backsliding associated to Machado’s election eligibility.

Earlier Monday White House spokesman John Kirby stated members of the Maduro authorities “haven’t taken those actions” promised in Barbados.

“So we’ve got choices obtainable to us,” he stated. “We certainly have options with respect to sanctions and that kind of thing.”

Machado, 56, handily gained an opposition major in October.