The United States is reportedly considering adding Venezuela to its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Including the South American socialist state on the list could impose further financial restrictions on Caracas at a time when it is already battling hyperinflation, food and medicine shortages and a mass exodus of citizens.

Discussions are thought to have moved forward in recent days following lobbying by Republican senator Marco Rubio, who has long pressed the Trump administration to take a tougher stance against Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro’s regime, Reuters reported.

A time frame for a decision on whether to include the country on the list is not thought to have been determined.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior US official said earlier this month the Trump administration was “looking at all potential avenues” to pressure Mr Maduro's government.

“We believe his presidency to be illegitimate,” the official said, reiterating Washington's rejection of the outcome of Venezuela's elections earlier this year.

“Maduro won a new six-year term in May but his main rivals disavowed the election and alleged massive irregularities.

“The regime really understands that the world is getting smaller for them. And that's the kind of pressure that is needed to really change minds in the regime. The sanctions are having an effect.”

Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Show all 23 1 /23 Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures One of the many children that have left their homes in Venezuela and seek temporary accommodation on their journey south. In Bogotá, Columbia this Informal Tented Settlement close to the central bus station is now home to several hundred refugees Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures People leave Venezuela carrying their worldly possessions and enter Columbia filing past on the bridge at Cúcuta. At the height of the crisis this August up to 40,000 were crossing each day Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Katiuska Rodriguez, 30, left three children back in Venezuela and stands at traffic lights with her life story on a cardboard sign in Quito begging for donations Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Kevin Reynold, 11, walked and hitchhiked with his family for 21 days to reach Quito, Ecuador. They arrived penniless and exhausted. CARE Ecuador through there delivery partners ADRA Ecuador are able to offer shelter, food and psychosocial support Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Jesus Hidalgo, 21, walked 20 days through Columbia arriving hungry and exhausted. “The Columbian people were very kind to us he said.” Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Ruth Santos 52, arrives with her husband and their two children at a shelter in Quito operated by the ‘People for Venezuela’ group and supported by CARE Ecuador. When CAREs delivery partner ADRA Ecuador welcome her she breaks down with emotion Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Yolanda Mendez 27, from Puerto de la Cruz in Venezuela, left her husband and child to find work in Ecuador ahead of their arrival in the coming months. She is one of many mothers leaving their children behind with partners or relatives in order to support them Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Streams of people leave Venezuela reach the midway point on the bridge entering Columbia at Cúcuta. The first round of immigration checks to see if they had the Andean card or passport stamped. At the height of the crisis this August up to 40,000 were crossing each day Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Jesus Bolivar, 29, worked in Quito to support his family back home, he handed out Bolivares the defunct Venezuelan currency for free with purchases of lollipops “Take which ever note you want, its completely worthless”. Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Victoria 27, was tricked into prostitution. She has suffered gender based violence, rape and has been stabbed. Such is the vulnerability of so many Venezuelan women trying to find ways to work and send money home to their families. Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Hender Mendez Diaz, arrives with his wife and their two children at a shelter in Quito operated by the ‘People for Venezuela’ group and supported by CARE Ecuador. He worked for PDVSA the Venezuelan Oil company for 26 years and was dismissed for joining a demonstration with 20,000 fellow employees objecting to the restructuring plans. He received no pension and no medical support for him or his family Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Maria Isabella 7, stood at reception with her mother at the Foundation of Migrant Attention in Bogotá, Columbia. After resting at the shelter for five days, and with their worldly possessions in two plastic bags, their journey to Ecuador continues. Sister Teresina hands Maria Isabella, 7, a bear for her to take and she replied “Thank you sister, this bear is the only thing I have in the world, I will look after him” Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Streams of people leave Venezuela and enter Columbia filing past on the bridge at Cúcuta. At the height of the crisis this August up to 40,000 were crossing each day Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures David Santos 8, arrives with her family at a shelter in Quito operated by the ‘People for Venezuela’ group and supported by CARE Ecuador Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Gilberto Gomez 39, arrived at Rumichaca with his brother Pedro. They has managed to sell what possessions they could from their homes for a fraction of their value and purchase bus tickets to get them to Ecuador Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures John Hydro Fernandez 21, has not eaten properly for 3 years living in Venezuela. He now lives at an Informal Tented Settlement in Bogotá, Columbia, close to the central bus station which is now home to several hundred refugees. He has had fever for five days and does not have the money to see a doctor, he wept from the pain. Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Kare Angely 4, sits on top of her mothers suitcase huddled in a blanket to shield her from the freeing cold temperatures at Rumichaca border crossing on the Columbian side. Sofia her mother couldn’t stay in Venezuela any longer as there was no food for the children Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Venezuelan’s queued late into the night in Ecuador at Rumichaca on the border. The lucky few will have a seat on this bus destined for Huaqillias on the Peruvian border Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Richard Villaneuva, 18, walked and hitchhiked for 20 days through Columbia. He was one of a large exodus of single men leaving Venezuela alone rather than in groups as they felt they had more chance in being able to hitch a lift Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Venezuelan’s pass through Columbian migration at Rumichaca, they exit through metal barriers herding them through like cattle. The temperature drops to 5 degrees Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Jhoan Cedeno 24, walked and hitchhiked for 19 days through Columbia arriving hungry and exhausted. “I need to find a job to be able to send some money home for my father who is unwell, It is difficult to find work here.” Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures Bethzaz Roca 23, an architectural graduate, sits on a bench at Rumichaca in the last of the evening sun whilst waiting for a bus to take her to Quito. She hope to be able to use her degree to find a good job but has concerns about xenophobia living in Ecuador as a Venezuelan Refugee. Paddy Dowling Venezuelan Refugee Crisis: in pictures On the Columbian border of Arauca, where hostility hung in the air with the humidity. Prostitutes sit waiting for clients in one of the 15 brothels in the town. Girls are recruited into the industry as young as fourteen or fifteen years old. Paddy Dowling

However, the source said it would be a challenge for the government to provide concrete proof linking the Maduro government to terrorism if it decides to place Venezuela on the list.

The four countries currently included – North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Syria – have been found to “have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism".

Mr Rubio and two other Republican senators sent a letter to Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, in September, accusing Venezuela of links to Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group and the Farc guerrilla movement in Colombia without offering proof.

Donald Trump has ordered several rounds of sanctions against Caracas since 2017, including an executive order signed on 1 November aimed at disrupting Venezuela's gold exports.

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The European Union also announced earlier this month it would extend its existing sanctions against Venezuela for a further year after accusing the regime of violating democracy and human rights.

Mr Maduro denies limiting political freedoms and has previously claimed he is the victim of an “economic war” led by Washington.

Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The White House declined to comment.