Caracas, Venezuela - A Venezuelan journalists' union on Friday denounced harsh restrictions imposed on the press during US-backed political transition talks launched this week.

Seven months after US forces abducted president Nicolás Maduro in January, Venezuela's interim government and parts of the opposition are engaging in talks that many hope will lead to free and fair elections.

Media workers held a protest one day after the launch of negotiations, denouncing the decision to only grant photographers access to the talks, as well as the lack of information provided to the press.

Journalist Deisy Martinez said security forces confiscated her equipment and floated the idea of arresting her. She was ultimately let go but was forced to delete photos she had taken at the US-backed talks.

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The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) lodged a complaint with the opposition delegation as a result of the incident.

During a meeting, delegation members "expressed that they reject what happened and stand in solidarity with the guild," the SNTP wrote on X in a statement translated from Spanish.

"We insist on the need to guarantee transparency and timely, free, and non-discriminatory access for journalists and media to activities linked to the dialogue process," the statement read.

The Washington-backed talks are set to continue until August 12 with the aim to find a "political, peaceful, democratic, and constitutional solution" to Venezuela's political limbo, according to a joint statement.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on a possible timeline for the country's political transition, telling reporters that the ultimate goal is to improve the daily lives of Venezuelans and create economic prosperity.

"It's going to require some persistence and a little bit of patience – not years, but certainly of months and weeks," Rubio said. "These things are difficult."