TEHRAN: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to embark on a tour to Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua this weekend, as reported by state media on Wednesday. The tour, aimed at strengthening Iran’s economic, political, and scientific cooperation with these Latin American nations, is part of Iran’s efforts to enhance ties with “friendly countries,” according to the state news agency IRNA.
Both Iran and Venezuela hold significant positions as major oil producers within the OPEC oil cartel, making them central figures in global discussions surrounding the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
In June 2022, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited Iran, resulting in the signing of a 20-year agreement to establish cooperative ventures in the oil, petrochemical, and defense sectors.
Iran and Venezuela Alliance
The alliance between Iran and Venezuela was further emphasized during Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Caracas in February. As a result, the United States has eased its embargo on Venezuelan crude, while France has advocated for diversifying energy sources, including through cooperation with Caracas.
The United States has accused Iran of evading sanctions by exporting crude oil to various countries, including Venezuela, while also supporting the Latin American nation in rebuilding its energy infrastructure.
The upcoming tour marks President Raisi’s efforts to deepen ties with these countries and expand Iran’s influence in the region. The last Iranian president to visit Cuba and Venezuela was Hassan Rouhani in September 2016, while the last presidential visit to Nicaragua took place in 2007 by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
