The US has imposed new sanctions on allies of Nicolás Maduro across Venezuela’s security apparatus for “electoral fraud”, but stopped short of suspending licences that allow Chevron and other oil companies to operate there.

The measures follow a disputed presidential vote in July, in which Washington and the G7 recognised opposition leader Edmundo González as the winner. Venezuela’s opposition has called for the US to cancel the energy licences, which are widely seen as the only effective means of pressing Maduro.

The US Treasury department on Wednesday said it would sanction 21 security and cabinet-level officials aligned with Maduro, including 15 leaders from the national guard and police, intelligence service, militia and military counter-intelligence service.