Iran Press/ America: The newspaper wrote that Venezuela and Iran, US adversaries that have been stung by sanctions and hobbled by the novel Coronavirus, are forging a closer strategic partnership, providing Nicolas Maduro a vital lifeline and according to the newspaper's claim, offering Tehran the prospect of a new center of influence just across the Caribbean Sea from Florida.
Washington Post continued: "Sending five oil tankers from Iran to Venezuela is testing how far the Trump administration is willing to go to shut down a budding relationship between two nations it considers enemies."
According to the Washington Post, US sanctions on Iran target anyone purchasing or facilitating the purchase of petroleum products from that country, but Venezuela’s oil company is already under similar sanctions. The Trump administration has also invoked the Monroe Doctrine — the 19th-century policy that rejects outside intervention in the Western Hemisphere — to move against foreign entities that do business with Maduro.
This is while, Iran has warned against any US effort to board or blockade the vessels, and Venezuela promised to deploy warships to escort the convoy through its territorial waters.
The Washington Post however says that any US interdiction of the convoy now sailing the Atlantic would be challenged by the Iranians and Venezuelans. But Venezuela’s US-backed opposition is providing some potential ammunition with claims the Iranians could be transporting more than mere gasoline; a claim that has been dismissed by Maduro’s communications minister as 'absurd'.
"Venezuela and Iran have had 20 years of commercial relations and cooperation," Jorge Rodríguez wrote in a text to The Washington Post.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has sent five fuel tankers to support the Venezuelan government and people, which are under US economic siege.
The shipments have caused a diplomatic standoff between Iran, Venezuela, and the United States as both nations are under US sanctions. 207
Read more:
Venezuelan MP stresses vitality of Tehran-Caracas alliance against the US
Cuban Pres. praises the arrivals of Iranian tankers in Venezuela
