During his visit to Iran, the Venezuelan president spoke about the ‘decline of the hegemonic power’ and highlighted Tehran and Caracas’ role in shaping a new world. On 11 June, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi welcomed his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, with an official ceremony at the Saadabad complex in Tehran.
Maduro arrived to the Islamic Republic on 10 June, leading a high level delegation for a wide range of cooperation talks.
Over the past several years, Iran and Venezuela have been the targets of a severe economic war launched by the west, and their bonds of cooperation proved integral to overcome unilateral sanctions.
During a conversation with HispanTV, Maduro highlighted how Tehran and Caracas are at the forefront of creating a new world that is free of imperialism and colonialism.
“The era of the United States’ military dominance in the world is over,” the Venezuelan president stressed.
“We are living through a time of geopolitical transition that will define the destiny of the 21st century,” Maduro went on to add, referring to the repercussions of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, which was launched response to NATO’s expansionist agenda.
“It is a century of the decline of hegemonic power and Iran and Venezuela are on the forefront of this process.”
During the televised interview, the Venezuelan leader also announced that he will sign a 20-year cooperation plan with his Iranian counterpart.
“We are going to have a complete day of work with President Raisi and his cabinet… I’ve come with a solid team to build this new stage. We’re working on a roadmap for cooperation that will be signed tomorrow, establishing plans and strategies for the next 20 years of development between Iran and Venezuela,” Maduro told HispanTV.
He went on to add that Tehran and Caracas “have placed their sights on the medium and long term [so that] our strategic alliance will be unbreakable.”
Maduro also thanked the Islamic Republic for all the help it has given Venezuela to overcome unilateral US sanctions that nearly destroyed the Latin American country’s oil industry.
Specifically, Maduro thanked Iran for sending several oil tankers carrying fuel, additives, and thinners, as well as providing Venezuela with crucial equipment and technical assistance to restore their oil refineries.
Earlier this year, oil industry analysts revealed that Venezuela doubled its oil production from 2021 thanks to the help of Iran. Just last month, the Islamic Republic shipped over one and a half million barrels of gasoline and additives to Venezuela
The Venezuelan president also confirmed Caracas’ support for the people of Palestine, and described their struggle as “the most sacred cause of humanity.”
He also condemned the west and its allies for remaining silent in the face of Israel’s human rights violations and the genocide being carried out on Palestinians, adding that Iran and Venezuela will always stand with Palestine.
The Venezuelan president arrived in Iran as part of a regional tour that also saw him visit Turkey and Algeria.
Maduro started his tour this week after Washington arbitrarily excluded Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua from the Summit of the Americas, which took place in the US.