On Friday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that 13.5 kilograms (about 30 pounds) of highly enriched uranium had been removed from a legacy research reactor in Venezuela, a joint operation involving the United States, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Brandon Williams, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, described the operation as a win for all parties involved and a signal of a renewed Venezuela. The uranium was safely transported from a site near Caracas to a Department of Energy complex in South Carolina. This operation comes amid a shift in U.S. relations with Venezuela, as President Donald Trump has recognized the vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, and opened the door for U.S. energy and mining firms. While business leaders welcome this new era of commercial relations, pro-democracy activists are concerned about sidelining opposition figures like María Corina Machado. Trump's administration has also been focused on Iran, aiming to secure the surrender of 408 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, but those efforts have yet to yield results.