Iran, Venezuela have ‘common enemies, -Raisi says

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi embarked on a rare diplomatic tour of Latin America, commencing with a visit to Caracas.

During his meeting with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Raisi emphasized the friendship between Iran and Venezuela, stating that they share “common interests, common visions, and common enemies.” Both countries, along with Cuba and Nicaragua, face US sanctions

Raisi described the relationship between Iran and Venezuela as strategic rather than ordinary diplomacy. Maduro hailed Iran as an emerging power, expressing confidence in their invincibility when working together. Enhancing trade between the two nations was a key objective of Raisi’s visit, with a target to increase it from $3 billion to $20 billion annually.

The leaders announced the signing of 25 agreements covering various sectors, including education, health, and mining. Technological cooperation and the broader goal of economic, political, and scientific collaboration among Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba were also on the agenda. Both Iran and Venezuela are members of OPEC, and the energy crisis resulting from Russia’s conflict with Ukraine has further highlighted the importance of their oil production.

Raisi’s visit follows Maduro’s trip to Iran in 2022, where a 20-year cooperation pact was signed. The last Iranian president to visit Cuba and Venezuela was Hassan Rouhani in 2016, while Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Nicaragua in 2007. In February, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Caracas to discuss defending national interests in the face of external pressures.