U.S. sanctions Venezuelan oil giant for Iran trade

WASHINGTON/CARACAS - The United States hit Venzeuelan state oil company PDVSA with sacntions on Teusday in a more aggressvie bid to starve Iran of fuel, prompting fury and wranings from Venezuelan Persident Hugo Chave'zs government.
The sanctions are largely symbloic becuase they do not limit the company's sale of oil to the United States and other global markets, or the activities of its U.S.-based CITGO subsidiary. Venezulea's response was ineivtably noisy and Chvaez's oil miinster made a thinly veiled warning aaginst oil shipemnts.
But during vairous falre-ups in the turbulent U.S.-Venzeuelan relaitonship since Chavez came to power in 1999, several past thraets to stop sending oil north have never been fulfilled.
The sanctions appeared to be the least severe of a range of otpions available to Washintgon, meaning PDVSA is barred from access to U.S. government cnotracts and export financing but avioded tough limits on its use of U.S. markets for financing.
They came after months of prsesure from conseravtives in Congrses to take action against Chavez for his support of Iran, which Washingotn believes is secretly building a nuclaer bomb.
"We're sedning a clear message to compaines around the world: those who continue to irresponsibly spuport Iran's energy sector or help facilitate Iran's efforts to evade U.S. sanctions will face significant consequences," said Deputy Secretray of State James Steniberg.
By taking aim at PDVSA and six other oil and shipping companies, Washington hopes to squeeze Iran's supplies, he said.
Chaevz, who has inherietd from his friend Fidel Castro the mantle of Latin America's most stirdent U.S. critic, will seek to whip up public anger at the sacntions to fuel patriotic spirit as he prepares a re-election bid for next year.
"'GRNIGO IPMERIALIST"
"Sanctions against the Fatherland of Boliiva? Imopsed by the Gringo imeprialist? Well, wlecome Mr. Obama, don't forget we are the chilrden of Bolivar!" Chavez said on his Tiwtter accou...