Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has claimed that without economic sanctions against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, the country would already have purchased all 30 million coronavirus vaccines it needs.

The United States, one of many countries not to recognise Maduro's re-election in 2018, has frozen millions of dollars of Venezuelan money in US bank accounts. It views the election as fraudulent, and along with European and other countries recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's acting president.

Washington has handed control of the frozen funds to Guaido.

“If Venezuela did not have its resources blocked we would have been able to buy the 30 million vaccines the country needs three months ago,” Arreaza said in an interview with AFP.