Iran Condemns US Military Intervention in Latin America

In a statement on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the US’ destabilizing and tension-escalating actions in the Caribbean and Latin America, particularly its recent military movements against Venezuela, as a threat to regional peace and security.

He also warned of the consequences that the expansion of Washington’s lawlessness and belligerent unilateralism could have for global peace and stability.

The Iranian spokesman slammed the US’ military attacks on fishing vessels in the region and its threats to use force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Venezuela, calling these actions a blatant violation of the principles of the UN Charter and the fundamental rules of international law, the ministry’s website reported.

Baqaei finally urged the United Nations Security Council and the UN chief to give immediate attention to the dangerous situation arising from the US’ insistence on unlawfully interfering in the internal affairs of Venezuela, as a sovereign member state of the UN.

Venezuela's government on Thursday requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council focused on the US military actions in recent weeks in the waters off the South American country. Caracas cited "mounting threats" from the US, which has conducted multiple military strikes on alleged drug boats off Venezuela.

Venezuela made the request in a letter addressed to Russia's ambassador to the UN and council president, Vassily Nebenzia, that accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of seeking to topple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and threatening "peace, security and stability regionally and internationally."

Maduro's government also expressed its expectation of an "armed attack" against Venezuela in "a very short time."

The request came a day after members of Congress voted down legislation that would have put a check on Trump's ability to use deadly military force against drug traffickers. So far, the US military has carried four deadly strikes in the Caribbean since it increased its maritime forces for what Trump has declared an "armed conflict" with drug cartels.

Maduro's government, however, maintains that the White House is using drug trafficking only as an excuse for the operation.

Last week, Maduro said he was ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of US "aggression."

The United States is now offering a $50 million bounty for the arrest of Maduro./tasnim