Latest on Venezuela: US seizes another tanker as Trump is set to meet with oil execs today

By CNN

Where things stand

• Another tanker seized: The US has seized another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, according to a source, a move that comes after the US seized two Venezuela-linked tankers earlier this week. US President Donald Trump is set to meet with oil executives today as part of a efforts to persuade America’s largest energy companies to return to Venezuela.

• Further attacks halted: Trump said he canceled a “second wave” of attacks on Venezuela, citing the country’s cooperation with the US in the week since leader Nicolás Maduro was ousted. The Venezuelan government announced yesterday it will release a “significant number” of political prisoners, a key US demand. Sigue nuestra cobertura en español.

• US oversight in Venezuela: The US Senate yesterday advanced a measure to limitTrump’s war powers in Venezuela as the country faces an uncertain future.

Venezuela announces “exploratory diplomatic process” with the United States, Venezuela announced on Friday the start of an “exploratory diplomatic process” with the United States.

The foreign ministry said the process is aimed at “re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries,” as well as addressing the consequences of what they described as the “aggression and kidnapping” of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Venezuelan rights group says it has confirmed release of 8 political prisoners: The human rights organization Foro Penal says it has confirmed the release of eight political prisoners since yesterday’s announcement by Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez that “a significant number” of the prisoners would be released.

Alfredo Romero — who is president of the group, also known as the Venezuelan Penal Forum — said that as of 11 a.m. Caracas time (10 a.m. ET), eight people had been released, including five Spanish citizens, whom CNN has reported on previously.

Romero shared the list of eight individuals on his X account.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa is not yet on the list, but Romero said he is expected to be among those released.

Opposition leader weighs in: Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González wrote on X today that he held a call with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in which he emphasized that the release of prisoners must be verified and “cannot be selective.”

González and María Corina Machado, the two most prominent figures in the Venezuelan opposition, have repeatedly called for the release of political prisoners following the US attack on Venezuela last weekend.

Members of the Trump administration told US lawmakers that they also made it clear to Venezuela it must release political prisoners, among other demands following the US capture of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, a source previously told CNN.

This post has been updated with González’s comments on X and additional background.