Venezuela has ensured that its military forces will escort Iranian ships bringing fuel to the country in its exclusive economic zone.
“We have established contact with the Minister of Defense of Iran, all these ships when they enter our exclusive economic zone will be escorted by FANB ships, ships and planes, to welcome them and say to the Iranian people ‘thank you for so much solidarity and cooperation ‘, in the midst of these difficulties that the world, which is our home, is facing due to the coronavirus, ”said Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
Iran’s defense minister warns that any act of US piracy against Iranian oil tankers will face a categorical response.
In response to threats made by the US Against Iranian tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela, Brigadier General Amir Hatami stressed on Wednesday that any interruption to the passage of such vessels will be considered by Tehran as an act of “maritime piracy” and, therefore, will have “firm answer”.
“Our policy is completely clear and we have already clearly stated that we do not tolerate any interference. Americans and others are aware that we will definitely not hesitate to react to this issue. If the annoyances intensify and continue, they will undoubtedly face a firm response, “said the Persian military.
The Iranian military high command has emphasized that “creating interruptions to oil tankers (in their passage through international waters) contravenes international standards and security.”
In this regard, Amir Hatami has called on international organizations and states to react to US threats against Persian ships, as this sensitive issue is related to the standards and safety of the world’s key sea lanes.
Tehran insists that its right to carry out commercial activities with any country in the world be respected, in compliance with the regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and emphasizes that, in these interactions, there is no place to apply scenarios of extraterritoriality as the US intends to impose in the case of Iran and Venezuela.
As the first replies to the threats against the Persian tankers, the Iranian Foreign Ministry convened the Swiss ambassador to Tehran (Persian capital), Marcos Lightner, as a State representing the interests of the United States. in Iranian territory; and the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohamad Yavad Zarif, alerted in a letter to the United Nations (UN) of the interventionist actions of the United States. in the Caribbean Sea region, specifically, the deployment of its troops in this area with a view to hindering the shipment of Iranian fuel to Venezuela.
