State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

The U.S. strategy to run Venezuela is to “control the purse strings," Vice President JD Vance said in early excerpts of an interview with FOX News.

“We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you're allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America's national interest, you're not allowed to sell it if you can't serve America's national interest. And that's how we exert incredible pressure on that country without wasting a single American life, without endangering a single American citizen,” Vance said.

Vance also claimed the tanker the U.S. seized in the North Atlantic sea -- the Motor Tanker Bella I -- was a “fake Russian oil tanker” that pretended to be Russian “in an effort to avoid the sanctions regime.”

-ABC News' Meg Mistry

Petróleos de Venezuela, S. A., Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company, said it is "currently negotiating with the U.S. for the sale of oil volume within the framework of trade relations that exist between both countries,” in a statement, originally in Spanish, Wednesday.

"This process is developed under schemes similar to those in force with international companies, such as Chevron, and is based on a strictly commercial transaction, with criteria of legality, transparency and benefit for both parties," PDVSA said.

"PDVSA ratifies its commitment to continue building alliances that promote national development in favor of the Venezuelan people and that contribute to global energy stability," the company added.

The Bella1 Russian-flagged oil tanker intercepted by the U.S. earlier this morning is a “Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel,” that was violating sanctions by transporting oil, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt said the vessel was deemed "stateless," after flying a false flag and that the crew will be subject to prosecution.

While Russia has condemned Wednesday’s actions after previously asking the U.S. not to seize the tanker, Leavitt avoided saying whether that the move would trigger a larger conflict with Russia – maintaining that the seizure was lawful, pursuant to a warrant.

“The vessel this morning was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. Federal Court after being tracked, and this was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil," Leavitt said.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated her strong opposition to the American operation to capture the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife carried out this past weekend.

Sheinbaum was asked about Mexican political commentators suggesting the result of the operation was positive because it was limited and there was no full invasion of Venezuela.

“What door does this open? That we would be okay with someone coming into Mexico to take whoever they want? Of course not. Here we have a constitution. Here we have laws. Laws are a social covenant that guarantees democracy,” Sheinbaum told reporters during her daily briefing.

“I believe that every country has the sovereignty to decide what to do with its natural resources; I do not believe that one nation should decide for another, no matter how problematic the situation may be,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum was asked about the Trump administration’s demand that Venezuela sever economic ties with several countries including Cuba, Russia, and Iran.

“Every country is sovereign, and sovereignty includes control over its natural resources, regardless of another country’s viewpoint” Sheinbaum said.

-ABC News' Anne Laurent