Iran reacts to coup attempt against the Venezuelan government

Tabnak – After months of clash between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, the developments in the Latin American countries are taking a more critical posture with the opposition trying to resort to the coup option. As a long-time ally of Caracas, Tehran rejects resorting to violence to solve political disputes.

In reaction to today's developments in Latin American country of Venezuela, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said "chaos and violence can, by no means, be a solution to political differences in Venezuela."

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said on Tuesday that Iran is closely following the developments in Venezuela, stressing that "chaos and violence can, by no means, be a solution to political differences in Venezuela."

The spokesman added "the best solution is to establish dialogue and create the necessary mechanisms between all parties in order to solve the problems of the people by the forces committed to the development and prosperity of this country under the direction of the Venezuelan legitimate government."

Mousavi’s remarks come as Venezuela’s Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said earlier on Tuesday that the government is confronting a small group of “military traitors” who are seeking to promote a coup against President Nicolas Maduro.

“We are currently facing and deactivating a small group of treacherous military personnel who took positions in the Altamira distributor road (in Caracas) to promote a coup d'etat,” said Rodriguez in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

Rodriguez’s announcement came a few hours after 35-year-old opposition leader Juan Guaido, standing near the La Carlota air force base in capital Caracas surrounded by a group of some 70 armed men in uniform, called for military units to support him in the “final phase” of a plan to end Maduro's “usurpation” of power.

Guaido claimed that government troops “answered our call” in coming under his command to oust the incumbent president. Rodriguez, however, vowed that the government would put down US-backed Guaido’s attempted coup, calling on the Venezuelans to be on full alert.

Venezuela has been in political turmoil since US-backed Guaido declared himself “interim president” late in January. The administration of US President Donald Trump, which immediately recognized Guaido’s self-proclamation, has since been mounting economic pressure on Caracas and has repeatedly threatened to use military force to topple Maduro’s government.

Washington has also confiscated Venezuela’s US-based oil assets in an attempt to channel revenue from them to Guaido.