Why it matters:
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament Speaker, has kicked off a multi-nation tour of Latin America with a visit to Caracas, aiming to bolster ties with Iran’s anti-Western allies in the region.
This tour marks Iran’s latest push to deepen strategic alliances beyond its immediate neighborhood, using parliamentary diplomacy to strengthen ties with like-minded governments resisting Western influence, particularly in the context of growing multipolar realignment through blocs like BRICS.
The big picture:
Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil, each at different levels of opposition to U.S. influence, are central to Iran’s strategy of building a global network of partners aligned against what it calls “global arrogance.”
What he’s saying:
Speaking to students and professors at Venezuela's University of Communications and Information, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said: “Iran has consistently emerged stronger in its confrontation with the global hegemonic system.”
Ghalibaf continued: “Let me emphasize, what Imam Khomeini envisioned for our revolution remains a source of inspiration today: we want to be ourselves, independent and free. Long live the people of Iran. Long live the people of Venezuela. Long live all nations that are a powerful voice for independence and resistance against global oppression.”
He added: “At a time when terrorism was rampant in West Asia and the U.S. and its allies were exploiting it politically rather than confronting it, it was Martyr Leutenant General Soleimani who stood by the people of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and others in the region, restoring security not through external intervention, but from within the nations themselves.”
“For the youth of Latin American countries, Martyr Soleimani was not just an Eastern commander, he was a global symbol of resistance against domination and injustice toward oppressed and freedom-seeking nations.”
Speaking in Caracas upon his arrival, Ghalibaf framed the Iran-Venezuela alliance as a “long battle against global arrogance.”
He emphasized the shared interests and common enemies of both nations, calling for deeper ties amid rising geopolitical tensions.
He also paid tribute to Simón Bolívar, praising his anti-colonial legacy as a symbol of resistance.
Key points:
- Ghalibaf arrived in Caracas on Sunday, welcomed by Venezuela’s foreign minister and senior officials.
- The visit aims to boost parliamentary and economic cooperation with South American allies.
- Talks in Venezuela will focus on legislative ties and removing barriers to trade.
- The Iranian delegation honored Latin American liberator Simón Bolívar at his tomb.
- The tour will continue to Cuba, which Tehran sees as a symbol of “justice-oriented” resistance.
- The final stop is Brazil, where Ghalibaf will attend the BRICS Parliamentary Forum, a key multilateral engagement platform.
Go deeper:
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Ashkan Salehian
