The United States has not decided whether to recognise Nicolas Maduro as president of Venezuela yet.
This is pending clarification of the dispute over a recount of the vote, Secretary of State John Kerry has said.
"That evaluation has to be made and I haven't made it," he told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, when asked if Washington would recognise Sunday's election result.
"We think there ought to be a recount," Mr Kerry told lawmakers.
Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles has demanded a recount after official results gave a narrow win to Mr Maduro.
Mr Maduro was the chosen successor of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez.
Opposition leaders said they feared persecution over post-election protests.
President-elect Nicolas Maduro promised to protect his rival despite their vicious election dispute.
Seven people have died in opposition-led protests.
The government has vowed legal action against Mr Capriles and others whom they accuse of stirring up violence.
Instability in the OPEC nation with the world's largest oil reserves has sent Venezuelan bond prices tumbling.
Mr Capriles alleged that the government had ordered gangs to attack his supporters.
He claimed that his official residence in Miranda state was attacked, where he is the governor.
"Anything that happens to me in the official residence at Los Teques is responsibility of Nicolas Maduro," he said.
Though demanding legal action against Mr Capriles and calling him a fascist, Mr Maduro nevertheless said he would be protected.
"I am a man of peace and of my word. I ordered (state intelligence agency) Sebin to maintain protection of the ex-candidate of the right wing even though he has got rid of those who were protecting him," he said via Twitter.
Opposition sources say their count showed Capriles had an extra 300,000 to 400,000 votes not shown in the official tally.
The electoral council has refused to hold a recount.
It says an audit of ballots from 54% of the polling centers, in a widely respected electronic voting system, had already been done.
Mr Maduro initially said he was open to a recount but has changed his position.
He has called on his supporters to demonstrate all week, culminating in a big rally in Caracas on Friday to coincide with his inauguration ceremony.
