The United States lifted sanctions against Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, the Treasury Department announced Wednesday. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed Rodríguez from its list of specially designated nationals, according to officials.
The Treasury Department did not provide reasons for the decision. Rodríguez's removal from the sanctions list means he can now access the U.S. financial system and that American citizens and companies may conduct financial transactions with him. The move does not automatically lift other restrictions, such as visa or travel prohibitions.
Rodríguez, 60, has led the National Assembly since 2021. He is the brother of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power in January following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in Caracas.
The lifting of sanctions on Rodríguez follows Washington's earlier decision in April to remove sanctions against his sister, interim president Delcy Rodríguez, roughly three months after she took office. Both siblings had been subject to U.S. sanctions since September 2018, when measures were imposed during the first term of President Donald Trump.
The action reflects a broader shift in U.S.-Venezuela relations since Maduro's capture. The United States has gradually eased pressure on Venezuela following the January operation. Washington and Caracas restored diplomatic relations, broken since 2019, and announced in August a petroleum agreement that would give the U.S. access to a quarter of Venezuela's oil production.
Rodríguez has served as a key negotiator in dialogue between the Venezuelan government and opposition representatives. According to sources, he is expected to lead initiatives to modify petroleum legislation. The State Department announced last week that talks between the government and opposition would resume, with Rodríguez representing the government side in negotiations over political reforms and a possible new election.