State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said the Venezuelan government is in control, “no one else,” during a press conference Tuesday.

"There is no external agent governing Venezuela. It is Venezuela," she said in Spanish in the speech that was broadcast on state TV.

"Venezuela does not surrender. Venezuela is in active resistance. Venezuelans are a noble people, a peaceful people seeking their own path. Venezuela has shown the world what we are made of, that we have grown in strength, that we have grown spiritually to face challenges, aggression, and threats," she added.

"Personally, they threaten me, I say it, my destiny is not decided by them, it is decided only by God. That is my answer," Rodriguez said.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman

The United Kingdom provided the U.S. with enabling support to interdict the Bella 1 -- at the request of the U.S., according to the United Kingdom.

"UK Armed Forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to U.S. military assets interdicting the Bella 1 in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap following a U.S. request for assistance. RFA Tideforce provided support for U.S. forces pursuing and interdicting the Bella 1, while the RAF provided surveillance support from the air," the U.K. said in a statement.

The vessel is part of the "Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion," U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement.

"Today our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful U.S. interception of the vessel Bella 1 while on its way to Russia. This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting," Healey said.

"The U.S. is the UK’s closest defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the U.S. is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice," Healey said.

The Russian Ministry of Transport issued a statement Wednesday condemning the seizure of the oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

"U.S. naval forces boarded the vessel in international waters outside the territorial waters of any state, and contact with the vessel was lost," the ministry said.

"No state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states," they added.

The ministry claimed the vessel received "temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag, issued on the basis of Russian legislation and international law," on Dec. 24.

-ABC News' Anna Sergeeva and Othon Leyva

The Trump administration intends to oversee the sale of Venezuela's oil indefinitely and some sanctions against Venezuela will be lifted, two sources familiar with the plan told ABC News.

The president announced last night that Venezuela will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil. This is just the first tranche, sources told ABC News.

Some sanctions against Venezuela will be rolled back to allow for the transport and sale of the oil on global markets, two sources said. Those sources said proceeds from the oil sales will settle in accounts controlled by the United States.

The White House declined to comment but did not dispute the reporting. CNBC was first to report.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott