State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

President Donald Trump said he has been informed that Venezuela "is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products" with the money from the deal with the U.S. to export Venezuelan oil.

"In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States," Trump posted on his social media platform.

On Tuesday, Trump announced that Venezuela would be turning over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S. to be sold at the market rate. The proceeds would go to benefit the people of Venezuela and the U.S., Trump said.

In the post on Wednesday, Trump said the purchases of American products would include agricultural products, medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve Venezuela's electric grid and energy facilities.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

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