VENEZUELA-US-SANCTIONS-IRAN-MADURO

Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolas Maduro speaks during a protest against the US for the sanctions it imposed to Venezuela's state oil giant Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) over alleged ties to Iran, in Caracas on May 26 2011. Maduro rejected the sanctions but acknowledged that suspending oil shipments to the United States would be an extreme measure and that he would need to evaluate the real effect of the US measure before determining what might be an appropriate reprisal. The United States imposed sanctions this week on PDVSA and six other companies -- including firms from Singapore and Israel -- that it accused of supplying gasoline and petroleum products to Iran. AFP PHOTO/LEO RAMIREZ (Photo credit should read LEO RAMIREZ/AFP via Getty Images)