The United States is preparing to grant new authorizations to key partners of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, starting with Chevron , to allow them to operate with limitations in the sanctioned OPEC nation and swap oil,

“Chevron has been informed that it has been granted licenses allowing it to continue its operations in Venezuela,” Maduro said in an interview with television network Telesur. The news was not immediately confirmed by Washington. Chevron, in a statement sent to AFP, neither confirmed nor denied the announcement from Maduro.

The Trump administration had canceled Chevron’s license soon after taking office, charging the Maduro government was slow to take back deported Venezuelans.