Iran has demanded the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were taken into custody by the US forces during a military operation on January 3. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, stated that the abduction of a country’s president and his wife is not a matter of pride but an illegal act.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson further emphasized that, just as the Venezuelan people have demanded, their president should be released immediately. This comes as a response to the US’s move to detain Maduro and his wife in New York’s jail, where they are facing charges of narcotics trafficking and terrorism. They were presented to the American court, with US President Donald Trump announcing that the US will take over Venezuela’s affairs, seize its oil reserves, and send American oil companies to the country.
Trump claimed that the Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, is ready to comply with the US’s demands. It is worth noting that the US government had previously announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of President Maduro, which was made public on August 7, 2025.
The US Attorney General stated that Maduro and his wife are facing charges of conspiracy to commit narcotics trafficking and terrorism, and are being charged in the Southern District of New York. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody by US forces from their bedroom.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that any country that interferes with the internal affairs of another nation will face severe consequences. The Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, has also expressed his support for Venezuela and condemned the US’s actions as a “clear example of imperialism.”
In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said that the US’s actions in Venezuela are a clear example of “meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign country” and are a “clear threat to regional stability.”
The US has argued that Venezuela has failed to comply with international norms and has become a “haven for terrorism and narcotics trafficking.” However, Iran has rejected these claims, saying that the US is trying to “usurp” Venezuela’s sovereignty.
The US’s actions in Venezuela have been met with widespread condemnation from the international community, with many countries calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The United Nations has also expressed concern over the situation, with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, urging the parties to seek a peaceful solution.
In related news, the Green Party’s leader, Søren Søndergaard, has called for the US to apologize for its actions in Venezuela, saying that the US has “no right to interfere in the internal affairs of another country.”
The situation in Venezuela remains volatile, with the country’s opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, calling for a peaceful transition of power. However, the US’s actions have raised concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region.
In a statement, the Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela, Seyed Ali Akbar Soltani, said that Iran will continue to support Venezuela in its struggle against the US’s “aggressive policies.” The Iranian government has also announced that it will provide humanitarian aid to Venezuela in response to the crisis.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to unfold, the international community remains on high alert, with many countries calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The US’s actions have raised concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region, and the situation remains volatile.
