U.S. will not recognize Venezuela election result: State Department

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The United States will not recognize the result of Venezuela’s presidential election on Sunday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan told journalists.

The United States is actively considering oil sanctions on Venezuela and Sullivan said a response to Sunday’s vote would be discussed at a G20 meeting in Buenos Aires on Monday.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was seeking a six-year term in a Sunday election boycotted by the opposition and condemned by foes as the “coronation” of a dictator. Results are expected by late evening.

“We need to make sure we adhere to our goal which is to target corrupt regime officials and not the people of Venezuela,” Sullivan said. “We don’t want to damage the country in a way that makes it difficult to repair after democracy is restored.”

Argentine President Mauricio Macri shakes hands with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan alongside Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie during a meeting ahead of the G20 Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 20, 2018. Argentine Presidency/Handout via REUTERS