US hints will reimpose Venezuela sanctions for President Maduro halting opposition party's elections

The Venezuela Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the presidential primary process for the party challenging the country's socialist government, which has controls the high court – jeopardizing a deal the Biden administration made on easing restricts on Venezuelan oil and gas in exchange for the ruling party's promise to allow competitive elections. 

The State Department vowed to reimpose the sanctions if the government of President Nicolas Maduro does not lift bans on some opposition candidates and free political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans by the end of November, according to Reuters.

The deal appears to have collapsed just two weeks after it was reached. 

"We urge Nicolas Maduro and his representatives to uphold the commitments they made at the signing of the political roadmap agreement,” a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday.

The opposition's primary vote tally also could be invalidated, based on the high court's decision.

The U.S. oil and gas sector has been critical of the administration’s willingness to work with foreign producers like Venezuela, allowing their oil and gas industry to grow, while maintaining opposition to production here at home.

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek Saab said last week that his office was launching a criminal investigation into the opposition’s primary, alleging fraud in the vote, which attracted more than 2.3 million voters.

The primary’s winner, Maria Corina Machado, has denied the allegations and asserted that the election was fair and transparent.