CARACAS — Venezuela on Thursday rejected the new sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department against several Venezuelan officials "in the strongest terms."

In a statement, Venezuela's Foreign Affairs Ministry denounced the US move as "unilateral, illegitimate and illegal coercive measures" and a "new crime of aggression."

Washington has once again demonstrated "its total disregard for international law, the self-determination of peoples and the democratic will of Venezuelans," it said.

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The latest sanctions violated the agreements signed in Qatar between the governments of Venezuela and the United States in September 2023, the ministry noted.

Earlier in the day, the US Treasury Department announced new individual sanctions against 16 Venezuelan officials in various branches of government.

It said that the sanctioned officials "obstructed democratic political participation and undermined the election process" during the recent Venezuela's presidential elections.

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Among the officials listed were the president of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, Caryslia Rodriguez, and the first vice-president of the National Assembly, Pedro Infante.

Venezuela has recalled its ambassador to Spain, Gladys Gutierrez, for consultations in response to remarks made by Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said on Thursday.

Gil condemned Robles' comments, calling them "insolent, meddling, and disrespectful" in a statement shared on Telegram.

Robles earlier referred to the Venezuelan government as a "dictatorship."

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry has summoned Spain's ambassador to Caracas, Ramon Santos Martinez, to appear at the ministry on Friday.

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Additionally, Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, on Wednesday called on the Foreign Affairs Committee to urge the executive branch to sever all diplomatic, commercial, and consular ties with Spain.

The diplomatic fallout came amid controversy surrounding Venezuela's July 28 presidential election, with the main opposition coalition, the United States, the EU, and several regional countries raising concerns over alleged irregularities.

The Venezuelan government, however, said these accusations are part of a US-backed plot to undermine the election results.