Iran is backing Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro as the Trump administration escalates military pressure in the Caribbean and intensifies its crackdown on criminal networks associated with the regime in Caracas. Earlier this week, Iran condemned U.S. actions and publicly aligned itself with Maduro, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warning of ‘dangerous repercussions’ from U.S. military activity, which he claims threaten ‘international peace and security.’ Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto welcomed Tehran’s backing, thanking Iran for its ‘solidarity with the Venezuelan people.’
Former Venezuelan diplomat Isaias Medina III, who resigned in 2017 over Maduro’s human rights violations, criticized Iran’s partnership with the regime, calling it a ‘calculated strategy’ serving mutual interests in criminal enterprise and asymmetric warfare that jeopardizes U.S. national security. When asked about potential U.S. military intervention, President Donald Trump said he had not ruled out any options, emphasizing the need to address Venezuela’s role in smuggling hundreds of thousands of people into the U.S.
Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, highlighted Iran’s deep strategic anxiety over its ‘main hub in Latin America.’ He argued that losing Maduro would be a significant strategic loss, as Venezuela serves not only as a regional hub but also a gateway for broader Latin American operations. Citrinowicz pointed to the recently thwarted assassination attempt on Israel’s ambassador in Mexico, linked to Iran’s Quds Force, as an example of how Iran uses Venezuela as a staging ground for its activities in the region.
Citrinowicz stated that Iran has already lost an important ally in Bolivia due to recent elections, though it still maintains partnerships with Cuba and Nicaragua. However, Venezuela remains strategically vital as it provides the ‘room to operate’ for Iran’s regional influence. He noted that Iran has military advisors in Venezuela and can supply arms through Qeshm Fars Air flights from Tehran to Caracas.
AmFACT President Adriana Jones welcomed the U.S. designation of Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, calling it a demonstration of Washington’s resolve. She urged policymakers to also designate the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Línea, to prevent further violence and protect American families from the devastation of cartel-related crimes.
Since September, the U.S. has launched at least 21 fatal strikes on boats involved in narcotics trafficking off Central and South America, including a recent strike on Sunday, as part of a broader campaign to disrupt maritime routes linked to Venezuelan criminal networks.