TEHRAN, November 20 - The United States is considering adding Venezuela to its list of state sponsors of terrorism but no final decision has been made, a person familiar with the deliberations said on Monday.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Adding Venezuela to the list could limit U.S. economic assistance and impose financial restrictions on a country already suffering from hyperinflation, mass migration and shortages of food and medicine.
Discussions on the issue have moved forward in recent days with strong lobbying from Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who has long pressed the administration to take a tougher stand against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the source said.
A time frame for a decision on whether to add Venezuela to the terrorism list had not yet been determined, the source said.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would be a challenge for the Trump administration to provide concrete proof linking the Maduro government to terrorism if it decides to put Venezuela on the list.
The Trump administration has levied several rounds of sanctions against Maduro's Socialist-led government since 2017, accusing it of undermining democracy. On Nov. 1, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed a disrupting Venezuela's gold exports.
Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Maduro, who denies limiting political freedoms, has said he is the victim of an "economic war" led by the United States.
Source: Reuters
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