TEHRAN (Iran) -- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said that the Islamic Republic helped his country by sending fuel in dire need despite U.S. threats and sanctions.
Iranian state media reported Friday that Maduro, in an interview with Maduro after his arrival, praised Iran's decision to send fuel tankers his energy-hungry country.
He said that "Tehran's oil delivery to Caracas was a great assistance to the Venezuelan people."
The collapse of Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers has caused tensions throughout the Middle East. Rising global food prices and U.S. sanctions have weakened Iran's economy and put further pressure on its government.
Maduro is accompanied by a high-ranking Venezuelan political and economic delegation. Venezuela is also under severe U.S. sanctions like Iran. This is in response to an invitation from Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Rasi.
Maduro indicated that he would meet Raisi Saturday to discuss a 20 year plan of cooperation between the two countries.
Maduro stated that "the need to well inform Iran and Venezuelan countries about the war on sanctions and find ways of countering them with steadfastness" would come up, Iranian English-language PressTV reported.
Maduro stated that Iran and Venezuela are united by a "common vision" on international issues, and both are victims of coercive actions by the United States and its allies.
He said that Tehran and Caracas have helped to shape the strategy for (a) resistance economic and were working to expand it.
After being rejected by Washington, Maduro has been on a Eurasia trip. Washington decided not to invite Maduro to the Summit of the Americas. He also visited Turkey and Algeria earlier in the week.
Turkey is just one of the few countries where Maduro is allowed to visit despite U.S. sanctions.
President Joe Biden's administration did not invite Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba to the Summit of the Americas. The Summit of the Americas began on Thursday. This was due to their authoritarianisms and violations of human rights. This led to Mexico's president deciding not to attend.
In the past, Venezuela received Iranian tankers at its ports. Venezuela has also received cars from Iran.
