Venezuela Slams US after Coup Attempt Report

"We denounce the plans of intervention and support for military conspiracies by the government of the United States against Venezuela," Jorge Arreaza said in a tweet.

His remarks came in response to a report by the New York Times on Saturday which said unnamed American officials held talks with a former Venezuelan military commander to stage a coup, but Washington reportedly decided against supporting the bid.

Later in another Twitter post, Arreaza said the meetings between American officials and coup plotters to promote violent actions to attack Venezuelan democracy and national peace were "unacceptable and unjustifiable".

Venezuela rejects all kinds of interference, he wrote.

The daily cited interviews with 11 current and former US officials and one former Venezuelan military commander who participated in the meetings.

The Venezuelan military commander is on Washington's list of sanctioned Venezuelan officials, according to the Times.

On May 21, the Trump administration dismissed Venezuela's presidential election as a "sham" and stepped up economic and diplomatic pressure on Maduro's government. Meanwhile, Diosdado Cabello, the speaker of the ruling Constituent Assembly of Venezuela says the US was behind the failed drone assassination of Maduro.

"The presidential assassination that was stopped was led by the United States. Is there anyone who has any doubt?" Cabello exclaimed at an event held by the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on Monday.

There have been increased speculation among Venezuelan officials of the US being behind recent armed attacks on the Venezuelan government. 

A rogue faction of Venezuelan police attacked the country’s Supreme Court in Caracas last year, dropping grenades on the building. Two drones also targeted an assembly addressed by Maduro on August 4. Independent observers have suspected possible US involvement.

American officials have openly talked about military intervention and coups in Venezuela.