According to CoinMeta, the Trump administration is increasing pressure on Harry Sargent III, a Florida-based oil tycoon and Republican donor, to divest his assets in Venezuela. Sources revealed that the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of Sargent’s offshore companies involved in Venezuelan oil production projects on Friday local time. At the same time, the Treasury Department has issued permits allowing him to liquidate his interests in those companies. Sargent served as a key secret communication channel between Washington and Caracas during the years of high tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, accumulating significant influence on both sides. He frequently visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and the Venezuelan presidential palace, meeting regularly with former President Maduro, who was later detained by U.S. forces, as well as other high-ranking officials. He utilized this special channel to exchange information between the two countries and helped to secure the release of American citizens who were detained in 2025. Meanwhile, he also pursued transactions in Venezuela that most oil companies avoided due to political risks and sanctions.