Venezuela’s president to visit Iran very soon

Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday, he will soon visit Iran to finalize new agreements on cooperation with the Middle Eastern country, which has become Venezuela’s top ally in boosting oil output amid U.S. sanctions.

During the interview Maduro also heaped praise on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying he admires the head of state as a man of great wisdom and great intelligence.

“Speaking of planned efforts in 2022 to improve partnership with other countries in the broader Middle East.

“They love us in the Arab world, I know that Arab governments and peoples love Venezuela.

“The visit will come as part of Venezuela’s plan to revive ties with Arab countries in the coming year,” Maduro said.

Venezuela is under stiff US sanctions that have impacted the country’s crude oil exports.

The Trump administration shuttered the American embassy in Caracas in March 2019 after recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Ever since, relations between the two countries have grown steadily more hostile, with the US government imposing strict oil sanctions on the country and targeting top officials with criminal indictments, something Maduro has likened to a soft coup.

The US has also imposed sanctions on Iran in a standoff with Iran over its nuclear program and efforts to revive a 2015 pact with world powers.

Negotiations are underway in Vienna to save the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which has been unraveling since the US pulled out of the deal in 2018 and Iran responded by increasing it nuclear activities.

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Kamila/Reuters