After devastating earthquakes that have killed more than 180 people in Venezuela, Washington has temporarily eased economic restrictions to allow the import of humanitarian aid. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a special license valid until October 2026 that permits financial transactions previously barred under the “Venezuela Sanctions Regulations” (VSR), which will speed up the flow of funds to affected regions. At the same time, U.S. officials emphasized that the measure is strictly targeted: Venezuelan government assets that have been frozen remain under arrest, and the overall policy of pressure on official Caracas is not being lifted. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) clearly states that the authorization does not extend to any other transactions prohibited by law and does not provide approval for the release of state funds that are being held. In this way, the emergency easing is a pinpoint humanitarian step rather than a broad softening of the sanctions regime.
Full version: US lifts sanctions on Venezuela to allow the country to receive aid after earthquakes