Iran Backs Venezuela Against Trump's 'Bullying&...

By Amir Daftari

News Reporter

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Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned what he called the United States’ “bullying approach” toward Venezuela, issuing the remarks as President Donald Trump expands military operations across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

The statement, released Wednesday, comes amid heightened U.S.–Iran tensions following past American strikes in the region, underscoring Tehran’s growing alarm over Washington’s actions and its solidarity with Caracas.

The remarks reflect an intensifying standoff as Tehran and Caracas strengthen coordination in response to what they describe as unilateral and destabilizing U.S. maneuvers.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The dispute highlights an intensifying clash over Washington’s military actions near Venezuela, which U.S. officials describe as part of an anti-drug mission. Iran and Venezuela argue the operations threaten sovereignty and place additional pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government.

Both countries remain under heavy U.S. sanctions, and their coordinated response underscores their shared opposition to American foreign policy and their continued efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.

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What To Know

During a call with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto, Araghchi denounced U.S. threats to use force, calling them a “gross violation” of the United Nations Charter. He emphasized the need for the global community to adhere to international principles and described U.S. actions as unilateral and destabilizing.

Building on this criticism, Araghchi also referred to what he called the “Israeli regime’s activities” in the Caribbean and Latin America, warning that these developments threaten regional security and require accountability.

Venezuela’s foreign minister expressed appreciation for Iran’s positions and affirmed the Venezuelan government and people’s determination to resist U.S. interference. This exchange reinforced the two nations’ alignment and set the stage for both sides to stress the importance of strengthening their strategic partnership.

That partnership has been steadily deepening. Maduro most recently visited Iran in 2022, when the two governments signed a 20-year cooperation agreement outlining plans for expanded collaboration in energy, trade, and security. The latest diplomatic engagement builds on that visit and reflects ongoing efforts to implement those long-term commitments.

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Military Escalations

These developments are unfolding as U.S. military activity in the region continues to escalate. The U.S. has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean alongside a flotilla of warships as part of what officials describe as a counter-narcotics mission targeting trafficking routes linked to Venezuela.

It has also carried out about 20 airstrikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 80 deaths, with Washington saying the actions fit within its longstanding interdiction strategy. Connecting these events to their broader geopolitical concerns, Venezuela argues the buildup is a pretext to remove Maduro and seize the country’s oil reserves, calling the operations a threat to its sovereignty.

These concerns were central to Gil Pinto’s discussion with Araghchi, during which Venezuela reiterated its position and Iran pledged continued support against what both governments describe as unlawful pressure.

Iran–Venezuela Relations

The latest exchange fits into a much longer history of cooperation. Iran and Venezuela have maintained close political and economic ties since the early 2000s, expanding cooperation under former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As both nations faced increasing U.S. sanctions, they developed joint initiatives in energy, banking, industry, and defense.

Over time, this partnership has endured successive administrations, evolving into a long-term strategic alliance encompassing fuel agreements, infrastructure projects and regular high-level visits.

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What Happens Next

The U.S. continues to press its naval and air operations across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, a show of force that Venezuela insists amounts to direct interference in its sovereignty.

Tehran has once again thrown its full diplomatic weight behind Caracas, framing Washington’s maneuvers as a blatant violation of international norms. With tensions escalating, every new military deployment and statement from the U.S., Venezuela, or Iran could further intensify the standoff, raising the stakes for a confrontation that spans continents and oceans.

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