Venezuela officially "froze" relations with the United States on Sunday according to a top diplomat from Hugo Chavez's government. Venezuela is striking back after Washington levied sanctions against them for doing business with Iran commerce the U.S. fears is financing Tehran's nuclear program.
Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolas Maduroalso also indicated that reestablishing communications with the U.S. was "impossible".
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) last month because the state oil company delivered $50 million worth of refined petroleum products to Iran between December and March.
The sanctions bar PDVSA from any U.S. government contracts, taxpayer-subsidized import-export financing and export licenses for sensitive technology. Venezuelan companies can still sell oil to U.S. private corporations.
The U.S. also imposed penalties on Venezuela's Military Industries Co. for violating the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act which bans buying and selling of sensitive technology related to nuclear, chemical and/or biological weapons and ballistic missile systems.
Chavez has persisted to defend the Iranians, claiming their nuclear program is meant for peaceful applications such as generating electricity.
Source: Examiner.com
