Iran President Voices Support for Venezuela’s Maduro

“We support the legitimate government of Mr. Maduro and believe that the people of Venezuela will foil this plot like the previous ones through unity and standing by the government,” Rouhani said about the recent political unrest in Venezuela.

He made the comments at a meeting with Venezuela’s new ambassador to Iran, held in Tehran on Saturday.

Denouncing Washington’s new plot against the Venezuelan government and nation, the Iranian president added, “Americans are basically opposed to all popular revolutions and independent countries, and seek to dominate the world by suppressing revolutions and sovereign states.”

Decrying the US government’s highhanded behavior towards Russia, China and Europe, Rouhani said Washington cannot tolerate the existence of other powers in the world.

He further condemned the US brazen and direct interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs, underscoring that Tehran’s close and cordial ties with Caracas would go on during Nicolas Maduro’s tenure.

“We will keep to the previous path of bilateral ties between the two countries in the political and economic fields and investment,” he added.

For his part, the new envoy, Carlos Antonio Alcala Cordones, praised Iran for supporting his country, saying Venezuela is facing a new plot hatched by the global imperialism, but will emerge victorious in the face of the ploy.

He said Venezuela has counted on its close friends, such as Iran, to fight off imperialism and foil plots.

Venezuela has plunged into political crisis after Juan Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president on January 23.

Shortly after Guaido took an oath swearing himself in before his supporters, US President Donald Trump recognized him as the country's leader. In response, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with the US and expelled American diplomats from his country.