Venezuelan FM: No one can stand in Caracas, Tehran’s way toward freedom
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said Iran and Venezuela have decided to be free and no one can stand in their way.
In an exclusive interview with IRNA, the top Venezuelan diplomat said Iran and Venezuela have experienced antiimperialist revolutions and are now under the US sanctions.
Arreaza said that Tehran and Caracas have common goals and enemies and their strong will for freedom and independence has brought about unity between the two nations despite the large geographical distance.
He stressed that the incumbent governments of Iran and Venezuela have provided the grounds for the expansion and development of Tehran-caracas relations.
He added that both countries are planning to hold a joint bilateral commission with the participation of all ministers from both countries.
Referring to a recent visit by his Iranian counterpart to Caracas and dispatch of Iranian oil tankers to Venezuela, Arreaza noted that despite the US harsh sanctions on both countries and the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, exchange of political delegations, trade exchange and economic cooperation have been regularly done between the two countries.
On November, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Venezuela for high-level talks as he begins a three-nation Latin America tour that also took him to Cuba and Bolivia.
In May, Iran sent five tankers loaded with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela to help jump start the oil refineries in the South American state amid a fuel crisis, according to Press TV.
The following month, Iran sent a cargo ship carrying foodstuff for the store.
In September, an Iranian ship discharged 2.1 million barrels of Iranian condensate to be used as diluent for Venezuela’s extra heavy oil production.
The shipments drew the ire of US President Donald Trump’s administration.