Iran, Venezuela strengthen ties amid post-election tensions

President Masoud Pezeshkian has reassured Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro of Iran’s commitment to expanding comprehensive cooperation with the Latin American nation.

During a phone call on Monday, Pezeshkian highlighted Iran's readiness to enhance economic and commercial exchanges and to provide technical and engineering services to Venezuela, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He also emphasized the importance of swiftly implementing existing agreements between the two countries.

Pezeshkian congratulated Maduro on his recent electoral victory, which extended his tenure as Venezuela's leader, and expressed Tehran’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people, condemning any foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs.

In response, Maduro expressed Venezuela’s eagerness to further strengthen cooperation with Iran, stating that advancing bilateral relations would lead to progress, welfare, and prosperity for both nations. He thanked Pezeshkian for his support and addressed the post-election unrest in Venezuela, attributing the violence to a Zionist plot in collaboration with the United States and other Western powers aimed at destabilizing independent countries.

Maduro also reiterated his determination to resist and overcome these external challenges, confident that his country would prevail. Despite Maduro’s victory, which was confirmed by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council with 51 percent of the vote, the United States and its allies have withheld recognition of the election results and have backed the violent protests.