Iran has publicly aligned itself with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro just as the Trump administration escalates its military pressure on criminal networks tied to Caracas. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei warned that U.S. operations in the region could lead to ‘dangerous repercussions,’ arguing that the military campaigns threaten ‘international peace and security.’ This stance was echoed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Iván Gil Pinto, who welcomed Tehran’s support as a sign of solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
Analysts suggest that Iran’s backing of Maduro is not driven by principled concerns for Venezuela’s sovereignty but by strategic interests in maintaining its influence in Latin America. According to Danny Citrinowicz of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, Iran’s presence in Venezuela is crucial for its operations across the region. He highlighted how the country serves as a ‘strategic hub’ for Iran’s military and intelligence networks, with Venezuela playing a key role in facilitating Iran’s expansion into Latin America.
Citrinowicz pointed to the failed assassination of Israel’s ambassador in Mexico, which Mexican authorities linked to operatives with ties to Iran’s Quds Force. The incident underscores how Iran uses Venezuela as a staging ground for more aggressive activities. He noted that losing Maduro would be a ‘strategic loss’ for Iran, as Venezuela provides critical access to Latin America’s broader criminal and military networks.
In addition to military alliances, Iran is reportedly providing direct support to the Venezuelan military. Analysts suggest that Iran sends advisors to Caracas and arms shipments via Qeshm Fars Air flights between Tehran and Caracas. The U.S. has already recognized the importance of this relationship, as it has designated the Cartel de los Soles, a major Venezuelan drug organization, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation signals the Trump administration’s commitment to countering narco-terrorism in the region.
AmFACT President Adriana Jones praised the designation as a ‘critical step’ in the fight against drug and human trafficking networks. However, she called for the same designation to be extended to the Juárez Cartel and its armed wing, La Línea, arguing that these groups continue to threaten American lives. Since September, the U.S. has launched at least 21 lethal strikes on vessels linked to Venezuelan criminal networks, reflecting the administration’s broader push to cut off illegal trade routes in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.