The US secretary of state called on Venezuela's government to release its remaining political prisoners, tying the step to Washington's push for free, fair and credible elections. The appeal came as Caracas navigates a fragile political transition following opposition leader María Corina Machado's return from exile.

The United States renewed pressure on Venezuela's government on Tuesday, with the secretary of state urging Caracas to release the remaining political prisoners still held in the country. US officials framed the demand as a precondition for rebuilding trust ahead of what Washington has called a push for free, fair and credible elections.

The appeal comes weeks after opposition leader María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela from exile and immediately called for new elections, reshaping the political landscape. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has since cast herself publicly as a guarantor of an orderly democratic transition, while the government named career diplomat Oliver Blanco as foreign minister in an apparent bid to ease tensions with Washington.

Human rights groups have long accused Venezuelan authorities of jailing opposition figures, journalists and activists on politically motivated charges. US officials gave no deadline for the prisoner releases but said Washington would keep the issue central to any broader negotiation over sanctions relief and the country's electoral calendar.