US seals $500M Venezuelan oil deal, proceeds parked in Qatar

The Trump administration has completed its first Venezuelan oil sale worth about $500 million and is holding proceeds in accounts controlled by the US government, including a main holding in Qatar, as it aims to control revenue from up to 50 million barrels while blocking creditors; the funds are to be overseen by Treasury and disbursed back to Venezuela, with interim Venezuelan leadership cooperating and more deals anticipated amid ongoing scrutiny from lawmakers about offshore accounts.