On Wednesday, Venezuela’s defence minister, Vladimir Padrino, announced that ships and planes from the country’s armed forces will be escorting Iranian oil tankers headed towards its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), guarding against any possible aggression by the United States.
Last week, Iranian officials wrote to the United Nations (UN) and summoned the US envoy over concerns that the superpower would attempt to block the shipments of petroleum that were already en route to the crisis-stricken nation. Reports state that a fleet of US Navy vessels, including destroyers and combat ships, are patrolling the Caribbean as part of a so-called drug interdiction mission. American officials have not yet announced any plans to intercept the Iranian tankers, but both Venezuela and Iran remain wary.
The shipment of 1.5 million barrels of fuel worth $45.5 million being carried by five Iranian gasoline tankers is set to ease the pressure on gas storage facilities in Venezuela, which are at maximum capacity. Simultaneously, it is expected to revive a certain amount of Iran’s oil exports, with both countries having been badly hit by US sanctions that are aimed at halting their crude oil production. Tehran is also providing Caracas with essential chemicals needed to restore full-capacity refining of its oil reserves, which are the world’s largest.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, recognized by close to 60 countries, including the US, as the country’s legitimate leader, however, expressed his concern of Iranian presence on Venezuelan soil, stating that the fuel shipment should be a cause of “alarm” to Latin America.
Simultaneously, the US blocked a Russia-initiated statement at the UN Security Council yesterday. The statement condemns the Trump administration’s interference in the domestic affairs of Venezuela. According to Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky, the text had “no accusations, only support of basic common things”. Russia first introduced the statement in light of an attempted incursion by a group from Colombia who sought to kill Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on 3 May. Among those detained were two US nationals. Trump has denied any involvement with the incident.
Caracas is reportedly paying for the Iranian fuel with gold, for which it has launched legal proceedings against the Bank of England. As part of sanctions to Maduro’s government, the Bank is refusing to release around $1 billion worth of Venezuelan gold, which the country says it needs to battle the spread of the coronavirus.
Image Source: Military Times
Venezuelan Military to Escort Iranian Fuel Tankers Amid US Threat
May 21, 2020
