Iranian Backing of Maduro Amid U.S. Escalation of Anti-Cartel Operations in Venezuela
Iran has publicly endorsed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as the Trump administration intensifies military operations against narco-criminal networks in the Caribbean. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned of ‘dangerous repercussions’ from U.S. actions, arguing they threaten ‘international peace and security.’ The Trump administration has taken steps to disrupt these networks, including a recent strike on a suspected cartel vessel off Venezuela.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto welcomed Iran’s backing, calling it a show of solidarity with the Venezuelan people. However, former Venezuelan diplomat Isaias Medina III criticized the alliance as a ‘calculated strategy’ serving mutual interests in criminal enterprise and asymmetric warfare, posing a direct threat to U.S. national security.
Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, highlighted Iran’s strategic concerns, noting that Venezuela is a critical hub for its operations in Latin America. Recent events, such as an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Israel’s ambassador in Mexico linked to Iran’s Quds Force, underscore Tehran’s use of Venezuela as a staging ground. Citrinowicz also noted that Iran has advisors on the ground and sends arms via flights from Tehran to Caracas.
American Families Against Cartel Terrorism (AmFACT) President Adriana Jones welcomed the U.S. designation of Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, urging policymakers to extend the same designation to the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Línea, due to the ongoing threat to national security.