A statement from the White House earlier in the day said the new measures were carefully calibrated to deny the Venezuelan government "a critical source of financing to maintain its illegitimate rule."

While admitting there were divisions in the nation, Arreaza said, "our country is united when it comes to threats, military threats, financial threats. Although some people in the opposition, I must confess, wanted these sanctions against its own people."

He also said President Nicolas Maduro has been constant with the intention of "having relations of mutual respect with the government of President Donald Trump," adding Maduro has "tried to contact, to talk; he is going to send a letter to President Trump."

He also said, "We believe that in the 21st century in this world all the issues have to be resolved through dialogue, through diplomacy and not through threats of war."

Also on Friday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, called the U.S. sanctions a "strong message to the people of Venezuela" from the U.S. president.

"We will use our diplomatic and economic tools to hold Maduro accountable and do whatever we can to lift up the Venezuelan people, who have suffered too long," Haley said.

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