Venezuela's President To Visit Iran

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro addresses the media at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela October 15, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo 

Reuters: Venezuela's president to visit Iran 'very soon' 

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday he will soon visit Iran to finalize new agreements on cooperation with the Middle Eastern country, which has become Venezuela's top ally in boosting oil output amid U.S. sanctions. 

Venezuela and Iran have strengthened their ties since last year. Maduro's government has received vital equipment for its oil industry from Iran, which in return has received crude and other primary resources from the South American country. 

Iran has been crucial for Venezuela's rising oil production in 2021. 

 "I am going to Teheran very soon, for a visit that President (Ebrahim) Raisi offered me, so that we meet in person, to hold conversations and sign new agreements ... and speed up processes of cooperation," Maduro said during an interview with satellite news broadcaster Al Mayadeen in Spanish, which was later broadcast on Venezuelan state television.  

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Venezuela's President To Visit Iran  

Venezuelan leader announces trip to Iran sometime next year -- Merco Press  

Venezuela's Maduro plans to visit Iran 'very soon' -- Al-Monitor  

Venezuela And Iran Are Getting Cozy On World Stage -- Victory Girls

Iran, Venezuela Agree To A 20-Year Cooperation Accord

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi (C) 

 Al Jazeera: Iran, Venezuela to sign 20-year cooperation accord  

Venezuelan President Maduro will meet his Iranian counterpart on visit to Tehran ‘in the next few months’. 

Tehran, Iran – Iran will sign a 20-year cooperation accord with Venezuela when President Nicolas Maduro visits Tehran “in the next few months”. 

In a joint press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart Felix Plasencia in Tehran on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian announced the news and added that a joint economic cooperation commission, which will be formed in Iran’s capital before the end of the year which, will finalise the details of the agreement.  

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Update: Iran keen to expand ties with Latin America, especially Venezuela: President Raeisi (Press TV).  

WNU Editor: Both governments are looking for a way to evade sanctions. Good luck on that.

The Iran - Venezuela Oil And Gas Partnership

An oil tanker is docked while oil is pumped into it at the ships terminal of PDVSA's Jose Antonio Anzoategui industrial complex in the state of Anzoategui April 15, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo 

Reuters: Exclusive: 'Perfect trips' - Venezuela ships jet fuel to Iran in exchange for gasoline, sources say 

CARACAS/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Venezuela is shipping jet fuel to Iran in return for vital gasoline imports for the South American nation as part of a swap deal agreed by the two state-run oil firms, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. 

Iran has ramped up assistance to Venezuela since last year as the United States tightened sanctions on both countries, hitting oil exports by state-run firms Petroleos de Venezuela and National Iranian oil Company (NIOC). 

Iran has sent flotillas of state-operated tankers carrying gasoline and feedstock for motor fuel to Venezuela, as well as equipment and spare parts to help the once-prosperous OPEC nation restart its dilapidated refineries. But the countries have provided few details on what Iran is getting from Venezuela in return. 

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WNU Editor: China is also benefitting from this sanction-busting trade .... China is still brimming with Iranian oil (Atlantic Council).

Iran Is Sending A Massive Fleet Of Oil Tankers To Venezuela

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg is reporting today that Iran is dispatching a 10-ship flotilla of fuel to Venezuela in defiance of US sanctions and threats https://t.co/7VEhfHGJjH

— Borzou Daragahi 🖊🗒 (@borzou) December 5, 2020

Bloomberg: Biggest Iranian Flotilla Yet En Route to Venezuela With Fuel 

(Bloomberg) -- Iran is sending its biggest fleet yet of tankers to Venezuela in defiance of U.S. sanctions to help the isolated nation weather a crippling fuel shortage, according to people with knowledge of the matter. 

Some of the flotilla of about 10 Iranian vessels will also help export Venezuelan crude after discharging fuel, the people said, asking not to be named because the transaction is not public. 

The Nicolas Maduro regime is widening its reliance on Iran as an ally of last resort after even Russia and China have avoided challenging the U.S. ban on trade with Venezuela. 

The country’s fuel crunch follows decades of mismanagement, corruption and under-investment at state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela since the time of Maduro’s late mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

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Update #1: Iran sends biggest ever fleet of oil tankers to Venezuela (Al Jazeera) 

Update #2: The 'Biggest Ever' Flotilla Of Iranian Tankers Is En Route To Venezuela With Fuel (Zero Hedge) 

WNU Editor: Fuel is not the only business that Iran and Venezuela are conducting .... U.S. Military: Iran Is Sending Arms And Troops To Help Venezuela (Forbes).

Venezuela Sends Large Fighter Jet Escort For Iranian Tankers

Zero Hedge: Watch: Venezuela Sends Large Fighter Jet Escort For Tankers As Iran's Flag Flies Over Caracas

To pretty much everyone's surprise it appears the five Iranian gasoline tankers will be able to offload their fuel to Venezuela without incident, despite US threats to thwart what Washington sees as illicit sanctions-busting. It remains that the return trip could be a different story, however.

Dramatic video emerged early this week showing the first couple of tankers' arrivals within Venezuelan coastal waters, accompanied by what appeared a large Venezuelan military escort, as Maduro officials promised.

First tanker to successfully arrive, the Fortune, docked by Monday, while all are now reported in Caribbean waters, with the second vessel soon to reportedly to dock as well, already safely within Venezuela's Exclusive Economic Zone.

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Update: Venezuelan Su-30s and F-16s welcome Iranian tanker (The Nation)

WNU Editor: The tankers are offloading their cargo .... Third Iranian fuel cargo reaches Venezuelan waters, others unloading - data (Reuters).

First Of Five Iranian Oil Tankers Has Entered Venezuela's Waters

BBC: Iran oil tanker reaches Venezuela amid US tension

The first of five Iranian oil tankers has entered Venezuela's waters carrying more than a million barrels of fuel.

The Iranian tankers are being escorted by the Venezuelan navy and air force.

The US, which has has imposed sanctions on both countries, says it is monitoring the convoy. Both Venezuela and Iran have warned Washington not to interfere with the delivery.

Venezuela is suffering a shortage of refined fuel, despite having the world's largest oil reserves.

"The ships of the sister Islamic Republic of Iran are in our exclusive economic zone," Venezuelan oil minister Tareck El Aissami wrote on Twitter after the arrival of the first tanker, named Fortune.

He thanked Iran for its solidarity, saying its actions would benefit both nations.

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More News On The First Of Five Iranian Oil Tankers Entering Venezuela's Waters

1st Iranian ship reaches Venezuela with no sign of US threat -- AP
Iranian fuel shipment reaches Venezuelan waters -- AFP
First Iranian oil tanker reaches Venezuela despite US threat -- DW
Iranian Fuel Tanker Arrives in Venezuela Amid Tension -- Bloomberg
First Iranian oil tanker reaches Venezuelan waters -- Al Jazeera
Venezuela Hails Iranian Gasoline Shipment as 'Landmark' in Defending Country's Sovereignty - Video -- Sputnik
WATCH Iranian tanker brave rough seas while carrying 1st oil shipment for Venezuela (VIDEO) -- RT
Tracking The 5 Iranian Oil Tankers Heading To Venezuela -- Forbes

U.S. Is Saying Venezuela Is Paying Iran In Gold For Oil Services

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

OilPrice.com: US: Maduro Pays Iran In Gold For Oil Services

Nicolas Maduro’s regime in Venezuela is paying Iran in gold for help with Venezuela’s crumbling oil industry, U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said at a conversation with Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute this week.

Over the past few weeks, Iran has been sending more and more planes to Venezuela, Abrams said.

“Our guess is that they are being paid in gold,” he said, referring to the payment for Iran, at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank.

“Those planes that are coming in from Iran that are bringing things for the oil industry are returning with the payments for those things: gold,” Abrams said.

In April alone, Venezuela loaded 9 tons of gold, worth around US$500 million, on airplanes for Iran, in exchange for Iranian help for repairing Venezuela’s crumbling refineries, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg this week.

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WNU Editor: Iran is denying these reports .... Iran denies US claim it's helping Venezuela oil sector (AFP).

More News On The U.S. Is Saying Venezuela Is Paying Iran In Gold For Oil Services

Iran Is Hauling Gold Bars Out of Venezuela’s Almost-Empty Vaults -- Bloomberg
Venezuela's Gold Vaults Empty As Iran Takes Bullion For Oil Services Rendered -- Zero Hedge
US says Iran helping Venezuela oil sector -- AFP

Iran Has Offered To Send Iranian Revolutionary Guard Troops To Venezuela

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif speaks during a news conference in Istanbul, Turkey October 30, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

New Arab: Iran could send Revolutionary Guards to Venezuela, foreign minister says

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif offered to send Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops to protect embattled Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, according to Channel 13 news.

Venezuela has been in crisis since its National Assembly chief Guaido proclaimed himself acting president of Venezuela following a mass opposition rally against incumbent socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

The country has seen two million flee the country following food and medicine shortages.

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WNU Editor: The Iranians already have their "air-bridge" to Venezuela .... New Air Bridge Reflects Iran's Growing Influence in Venezuela (VOA).

Turkey Holds Suspicious Iran-Venezuela Shipment

Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez

From Yahoo News/AP:

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey was holding a suspicious shipment bound for Venezuela from Iran because it contained lab equipment capable of producing explosives, a customs official said Tuesday.

Suleyman Tosun, a customs official at the Mediterranean port of Mersin, said military experts were asked to examine the material, which was seized last month, and decide whether to let the shipment to go to Venezuela.

Authorities detected the equipment during a search of 22 containers labeled "tractor parts," Tosun said. They were brought to Mersin by trucks from neighboring Iran, he said. Turkey's Interior Ministry said an investigation was under way.

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Iran Using Venezuela Ties To Duck UN Sanctions: Report

From Yahoo News/AFP:

ROME (AFP) – Iran is using its warm relations with Venezuela to dodge UN sanctions and use Venezuelan aircraft to ship missile parts to Syria, an Italian newspaper reported Sunday.

Citing US and other Western intelligence agencies, La Stampa said Iran is using aircraft from Venezuelan airline Conviasa to transport computers and engine components to Syria for use in missiles.

The material comes from Iranian industrial group Shahid Bagheri, listed in the annex of UN Security Council Resolution 1737, adopted in December 2006, for involvement in Iran's ballistic missile programme.

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