The US imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials for their suspected role in human rights abuses, as President Barack Obama declared the situation in the country an "extraordinary threat" to US national security.
At least seven high-ranking military, police and government officials will have assets frozen and will be blocked from doing business with US firms or travel to the country.
White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said the Venezuelan government had tried to distract from "its own actions by blaming the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela".
“We are deeply concerned by the Venezuelan government’s efforts to escalate intimidation of its political opponents,” Mr Earnest, said in a statement. “Venezuela’s problems cannot be solved by criminalising dissent.”
“Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption will not be welcome here, and we now have the tools to block their assets and their use of US financial systems.”
Officials hit by the sanctions include the director general of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Intelligence Service and director of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Police.
Venezuela in response withdrew its highest ranking diplomat from Washington for consultation.