Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez responded on Tuesday (January 30) to the Treasury Department's warnings regarding the potential reinstatement of sanctions on the South American country if it fails to comply with the election agreement.

Rodríguez, who also leads the government's representation in talks with the opposition, cautioned the United States, stating, "Save the ultimatum (until April), Yankees." During a speech to the National Assembly, he announced that Nicolas Maduro's government would initiate work on the presidential election timetable the following week.

The U.S. has initiated the reimposition of sanctions on Caracas this week after the South American country's top court upheld a ban preventing the candidacy of the leading opposition candidate in a forthcoming presidential election later this year.