Dec. 16 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered "a total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers going to or from Venezuela, raising already high tensions between Washington and Caracas by targeting the South American nation's largest revenue source.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday (Dec 16) a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington's latest move to increase pressure

In a statement, Venezuela's government said it rejected Trump's "grotesque threat".

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a blockade of "sanctioned oil vessels" heading to and leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating his pressure campaign against Caracas while issuing new demands for the country's crude. "Today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Tuesday evening.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a blockade of "sanctioned oil vessels" heading to and leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating his pressure campaign against Caracas while issuing new demands for the country's crude. "Today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Tuesday evening.

WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump today ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington’s latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government, targeting its main source of income.

The move is an escalation of military operations and a pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s leader. But its scope and economic impact are not clear.

It is unclear how his administration will impose ‍the blockade ​against the sanctioned vessels. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Trump orders a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers to Venezuela, intensifying pressure on Maduro amid allegations of drug trafficking.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country’s economy. Trump’s escalation comes after U.S. forces last week […]

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered \"a ‍total ​and complete\" blockade ‍of all sanctioned oil tankers ​entering ​and leaving Venezuela.  Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country's economy. Trump's escalation comes after U.S. forces…

President Donald Trump says he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.