Some sanctioned oil vessels divert from Venezuela as Trump threatens blockade

Some oil vessels are diverting away from Venezuela after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country. It's a dramatic escalation in the White House’s pressure campaign on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The blockade threatens to choke off revenue from the world’s largest oil reserves that are key to Maduro’s grip on power. Maritime intelligence firm Windward says at least 30 vessels under sanctions are navigating near Venezuela and a few have started to change course. Among those is the Hyperion, which had been sailing toward the Jose port in Venezuela before doing a 90-degree turn early Wednesday and starting to head north away from the South American mainland.