CARACAS/TEHRAN – Iran’s embassy in Venezuela sharply criticized the Nobel Committee’s decision to award the Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition, describing the move as a sign of Western interference and divisiveness in the developing world.
In a statement posted on its X account, the Iranian embassy condemned the award to Machado, calling it “a justification for genocide in Gaza” and “an endorsement of foreign military aggression against Venezuela.” The embassy said the selection mocks the very concept of peace.
Machado, born on October 7, 1967, in Caracas, is an industrial engineer and politician who entered politics in 2002 by founding the NGO Súmate. She describes herself as a liberal and has labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government as a “criminal mafia.” However, critics—including leftist supporters and independent analysts—accuse her of being linked to foreign capitalist interests and of exacerbating Venezuela’s economic crisis.
The Nobel Committee’s decision has sparked controversy amid Venezuela’s ongoing political and economic turmoil, highlighting deep divisions both within the country and internationally over the legitimacy and role of opposition figures.