Donald Trump has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil contained on tankers it has seized off the coast of Venezuela, as well as the vessels themselves. The US president's comments came as Washington continues to pressure the South American country's leader Nicolas Maduro to stand down.

The Trump administration is increasing action against Venezuelan oil tankers after seizing two and pursuing a third.

The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil money to fund drug-related crime. The seizure of the tankers is the latest development in the US's pressure campaign against the government of Venezuelan president,

Just bring us the latest on the scale of the blockade and how much it's actually choking off oil. How much pressure is this putting on Maduro's government? Well, this is put

U.S. ​President Donald Trump said ‌on Monday it would be smart for Venezuelan President ​Nicolas Maduro to leave power, and the United States could keep or sell the ‍oil it had seized ​off the coast of Venezuela in recent weeks.

The seizure comes comes days after President Trump announced a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

The US Coast Guard’s pursuit of a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela has intensified a blockade that the Trump administration hopes will cut off a vital economic lifeline and isolate the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro praised the introduction of an antipiracy law and aired frustration at U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy.