SECURITY: White House In "Close Correspondence" w/Interim VEN Authorities

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has told reporters at the White House that the Trump administration is in "close correspondence" with the "interim authorities" in Venezuela. She says that it is "too premature for an election timetable for Venezuela." Adds that the US will be "selectively rolling back sanctions" on the country to facilitate oil sales.   

• Leavitt says, echoing Secrtary of State Marco Rubio's comments moments ago on Capitol Hill, "we have maximum leverage" over the interim authority, whose decisions will be dictated by the US. See: SECURITY: Rubio Outlines '3-Fold' Process To Leverage VEN Oil To Enact Change
• Leavitt asserts that a deal was struck with the interim authorities for the US to take control of sanctioned oil that was "just sitting on ships because of the effect of US quarantine."  
• Leavitt says that the oil will arrive in the US "very soon" and the Department of Energy has already "begun marketing the oil." She notes that Energy Secretary Chris Wright is in Florida today meeting with oil execs, and will have a second meeting with key oil figures at the White House on Friday to discuss "immense opportunities".
• The DOE said in a statement it has, "engaged world’s leading commodity marketers, key banks to execute and provide financial support for Venezuelan crude oil and crude products sales," per Reuters.
• Leavitt stresses that there is "a long-term plan" but declines to provide additional details, defers to Secretary Rubio. She says there are currently no US boots on the ground in Venezuela, but says Trump reserves the right to use military force if necessary.