Norway says it has had "preliminary contacts" with representatives from Venezuela's government and the opposition, confirming recent media reports of a possible role.
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The move was "part of an exploratory phase, with the aim of contributing to finding a solution to the situation in the country," the Norwegian Foreign Ministry statement said on Friday.
"We reiterate our willingness to continue supporting the search for a peaceful solution."
Venezuela has experienced a massive economic and political crisis under President Nicolas Maduro, who won a second term in an election boycotted by most of the opposition a year ago.
More than three million Venezuelans have fled abroad.
Reports of talks in Norway emerged earlier this week, but in Venezuela the opposition leader Juan Guaido on Thursday downplayed the importance of a visit by his envoys to Norway.
Guaido confirmed that Norway was mediating between the government and the opposition, but denied the two parties were negotiating.
"It is an effort by Norway for a mediation, which has been going on for months. This was the second invitation to Oslo. All the rest is speculation," daily El Nacional quoted Guaido as saying.
He described the Norwegian mediation as one initiative among many and announced that his US envoy Carlos Vecchio will meet the US Southern Command on Monday.
Dozens of countries, including the United States, have recognised Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. Norway has not.
Guaido, who denounces Maduro's 2018 re-election as fraudulent, called for Venezuela's military to rise up on April 30, but his push quickly petered out and the military's top brass has since then sworn allegiance to Maduro.
When asked about Venezuelan talks in Norway, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York: "We're very much aware of what is going on and very much supportive of this process."
Australian Associated Press
