U.S. slaps sanctions on Venezuelan president Maduro

The United States Treasury Department on Monday slapped sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"Yesterday's illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement, CNN reports.

The move comes a day after Maduro declared a sweeping victory in a vote that will allow him to further consolidate his power over the crisis torn nation.

The sanctions can clearly be called a clear signal of the Trump administration's opposition to Maduro's regime. A major part of the world has called the vote an assault on democracy.

Owing to the development, beginning on Monday, all of the Venezuelan's president's assets that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen.