Iran Solidifies Support for Maduro Amid U.S. Escalation in Venezuelan Drug Crackdown
Iran has publicly endorsed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro just as the Trump administration intensifies military operations against criminal networks in the region. This move comes amid U.S. efforts to crack down on drug trafficking operations, including recent strikes on suspected narco-terrorist vessels off the coast of Venezuela. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned U.S. actions, warning of “dangerous repercussions” from American military activity, which he claimed threatens “international peace and security,” according to Iran’s official news agency, IRNA.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto immediately welcomed Tehran’s backing, expressing gratitude for Iran’s “solidarity with the Venezuelan people.” However, former Venezuelan diplomat Isaias Medina III, who resigned in 2017 due to Maduro’s human rights violations, suggested that Iran’s support for Maduro is a calculated strategy rather than a principled stand. He argued that it serves mutual interests in criminal enterprise and asymmetric warfare, posing a direct and evolving threat to U.S. national security.
Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, explained that Iran’s alliance with Maduro is driven by strategic concerns. “Iran is extremely worried that it’s going to lose its main hub in Latin America,” he said, emphasizing that Venezuela is a critical strategic hub for Iranian operations in the region. Citrinowicz highlighted how Iran uses Venezuela as a staging ground, including in the failed assassination attempt on Israel’s ambassador in Mexico, which officials linked to Iranian operatives.
Analysts also pointed to the recent designation of Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department, which demonstrates Washington’s determination to combat drug and human trafficking networks. American Families Against Cartel Terrorism (AmFACT) President Adriana Jones welcomed the move, urging policymakers to extend the designation to the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Línea, to prevent further attacks on American families. The U.S. has launched at least 21 lethal strikes on suspected narco-terrorist vessels since September, signaling a broader campaign to disrupt maritime routes tied to Venezuelan criminal networks.
As tensions escalate, the U.S. continues to consider military options, with President Donald Trump indicating that he has not ruled out anything, including the possibility of U.S. troops on the ground. Meanwhile, analysts warn of the broader implications of these actions, not only for regional stability but also for global drug trafficking patterns. The growing entanglement of Iran, Venezuela, and other criminal networks underscores the complexity of geopolitical and security challenges in Latin America.