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WASHINGTON, May 21-- The United States on Monday escalated its rhetoric and moves against Venezuela, right after Nicolas Maduro secured a second six-year term in the country's election. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order prohibiting certain additional transactions with respect to Venezuela. The order, effective at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, targets the Maduro government by banning all transactions by a U.S. individual or an entity within the United States from purchasing any debt owed to the Venezuelan government, including accounts receivable. Moreover, the order prohibits the purchase of any debt owed to Venezuela that is pledged as collateral after the effective date of the order; the sale, transfer, assignment, or pledging as collateral by Venezuela of any equity interest in any entity in which the Venezuelan government has a 50-percent or greater ownership interest. It also bans "any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions" and "any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions" set forth in this order. Trump has authorized the U.S. treasury secretary, in consultation with the state secretary, to promulgate rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to implement this order. "All agencies of the United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order," reads the order. | 
