TEHRAN -- Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi says Venezuela is the target of sanctions by the U.S. and the global arrogant system because the Latin American country seeks independence and freedom.
In a phone call with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro late Saturday, Raisi said the Latin American government and nation seek independence and justice and fight against the arrogant system.
He lauded Tehran-Caracas relations as “strategic,” saying development of mutual ties, especially in trade and economic fields, is a necessity.
He also hailed last month’s successful local and regional elections in Venezuela which he said showed the strength of the Venezuelan government.
Maduro’s ruling United Socialist Party in November claimed sweeping victory in regional elections, the country’s first which included the participation of top opposition parties in nearly four years and their humiliating defeat in the presence of international electoral observers.
Maduro’s party won 20 of the 23 gubernatorial offices and the mayorship of the capital Caracas, the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced. The voter turnout was put around 41.8%.
Raisi pointed to the position of Iran and Venezuela in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, and said, “Oil cooperation between the two countries should take a new form and we need to take greater steps in the field of refineries and petrochemical resources.”
The Iranian president stressed the importance of fully implementing agreements already signed between the two countries, saying the ground must be prepared for both sides to sign more deals.
The Venezuelan president, for his part, said his country has succeeded in defending national peace and stability in the face of threats and intrigues by imperialist powers.
Maduro emphasized the need for promoting his country’s economic relations with Iran, particularly in the energy field, and called for efforts to stabilize the oil market.