Iran Condemns U.S. ‘Bullying Tactics’ Toward Venezuela Amid Rising Tensions

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has criticized what he described as the United States’ “bullying approach” toward Venezuela, as Washington intensifies pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

In a statement released Wednesday, Araghchi denounced the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, where the world’s largest aircraft carrier and several warships have been deployed for what Washington calls “anti-drug operations.” The campaign has reportedly included around 20 air strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 80 deaths.

Venezuela, however, insists that the operation is a cover for an attempt to topple Maduro and seize the country’s vast oil reserves.

During a phone call with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, Araghchi described U.S. threats to use force as a “gross violation” of the UN Charter, urging respect for international law and national sovereignty.

President Donald Trump has accused Maduro of running a drug cartel and has authorized covert CIA operations in the country, while maintaining that military intervention remains an option.

Both Iran and Venezuela have been under long-standing U.S. sanctions and maintain close ties. Maduro visited Tehran in 2022, where the two nations signed a 20-year cooperation deal. The following year, then-Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Caracas as part of a Latin American tour that also included Cuba and Nicaragua.