Iran joins Russia and Turkey to declare support for Venezuela’s Maduro

Tabnak – With the United States officially challenging Venezuelan president in favor of the opposition, the crisis in the Latin American country has entered a new, more serious phase. Although some American allies worldwide has followed Washington’s lead in this regard, Iran still supports the legal government in Karakas.

In this vein, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi voiced the country’s support for the Venezuelan people and government against “any kind of foreign interference” in the domestic affairs of the Latin American country.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports Venezuela's government and nation against any kind of foreign interference in its internal affairs or any illegal act, such as attempts (to stage) a coup and anti-people measures,” Qassemi said in a statement released on Thursday.

“We hope that any political disagreement or problem in Venezuela will be resolved by the people and government of the country as soon as possible through adopting legal and peaceful solutions,” the speaker added.

The comments came after Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president on Wednesday, winning over the backing of the Washington and many Latin American nations and prompting socialist President Nicolas Maduro to break relations with the United States.

Speaking to supporters outside the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Maduro said he would give US diplomatic personnel 72 hours to leave Venezuela, which is suffering from a hyperinflationary economic collapse.

Maduro accused the opposition of seeking to stage a coup with the support of the United States, which he said was seeking to govern Venezuela from Washington.

Apart from Iran, Russia and Turkey have been two other countries to declare support for Maduro. In this vein, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced solidarity with his Venezuelan counterpart in a telephone conversation.

“Our president called and extended Turkey’s support to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and said ‘My brother Maduro! Stand tall, we stand by you!’” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter.

Russia, in turn, stressed that it would stand by Venezuela to protect its sovereignty, warning that Washington’s moves could lead to lawlessness and bloodshed in Venezuela.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that events in Venezuela are reaching a dangerous point, and that the US was turning a blind eye to international law.

Interfax cited Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, as saying Moscow would stand with Venezuela to protect its sovereignty and the principle of non-interference in its domestic affairs.

Oil-rich Venezuela is mired in economic turmoil, with hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of basic items. It is also one of the world’s highest-crime countries. Maduro was sworn in for a second term, after a vote marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging.