WASHINGTON: The US Treasury imposed new sanctions Thursday against three of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s relatives as well as six companies shipping the South American country’s oil. The move came as the White House said it will bring an oil tanker seized by American forces off the Venezuelan coast to a port in the United States, adding to growing fears of open conflict between the two countries.

U.S. forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News.

Move is major escalation of US pressure campaign against South American country’s dictator, Nicolás MaduroUS politics live – latest updates