State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez held a working meeting of the political coalition in Venezuela on Wednesday, Venezuelan state TV reported on their main television channel and their Telegram account.

During the meeting, a "rescue plan for the Venezuelan head of state and the first lady," was discussed, a Venezuelan state TV correspondent said on the broadcast.

A post from the broadcaster's Telegram account said Rodriguez led an "important meeting" Wednesday "regarding the liberation" of deposed leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, the president of the National Assembly Jorge Rodríguez as well as sectoral vice presidents, governors, deputies, mayors and others participated in the meeting, according to state media.

-ABC News' Ismario Rodriguez Perez and Ellie Kaufman

President Donald Trump said he has been informed that Venezuela "is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products" with the money from the deal with the U.S. to export Venezuelan oil.

"In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States," Trump posted on his social media platform.

On Tuesday, Trump announced that Venezuela would be turning over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S. to be sold at the market rate. The proceeds would go to benefit the people of Venezuela and the U.S., Trump said.

In the post on Wednesday, Trump said the purchases of American products would include agricultural products, medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve Venezuela's electric grid and energy facilities.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

The U.S. strategy to run Venezuela is to “control the purse strings," Vice President JD Vance said in early excerpts of an interview with FOX News.

“We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you're allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America's national interest, you're not allowed to sell it if you can't serve America's national interest. And that's how we exert incredible pressure on that country without wasting a single American life, without endangering a single American citizen,” Vance said.

Vance also claimed the tanker the U.S. seized in the North Atlantic sea -- the Motor Tanker Bella I -- was a “fake Russian oil tanker” that pretended to be Russian “in an effort to avoid the sanctions regime.”

-ABC News' Meg Mistry

Petróleos de Venezuela, S. A., Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company, said it is "currently negotiating with the U.S. for the sale of oil volume within the framework of trade relations that exist between both countries,” in a statement, originally in Spanish, Wednesday.

"This process is developed under schemes similar to those in force with international companies, such as Chevron, and is based on a strictly commercial transaction, with criteria of legality, transparency and benefit for both parties," PDVSA said.

"PDVSA ratifies its commitment to continue building alliances that promote national development in favor of the Venezuelan people and that contribute to global energy stability," the company added.