Political | Process

The raids were carried out just as the United States announced that it was lifting some of its sanctions on the Venezuelan regime.

• The Biden administration lifted on Monday some of the sanctions that blocked natural gas deals with Venezuela, but maintains a long list of sanctions that prohibit the sales of Venezuelan crude in international markets and the movement through the international financial system of the personal fortunes belonging to key regime members.

• After Maduro’s men left the building, Guaidó told reporters that they had been carrying “weapons of war” and detonated an explosive in the building’s basement, but that they did not take him and were forced to leave thanks to the actions of neighbors and the appearance of journalists.