Iran supports Venezuelan government amid US meddling: Qassemi

Foreign Ministry has lashed out at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for making meddlesome remarks against Venezuela, saying the Islamic Republic supports the "legal" government of the Latin American country.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran supports Venezuela’s legal government as well as its nation in the face of Washington's illegal interference," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Saturday, Press TV reported.

Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on January 12, Pompeo described Venezuela’s government under President Nicolas Maduro as illegitimate and said the United States would work with like-minded countries in Latin America to restore democracy there.

“The Maduro regime is illegitimate and the United States will work diligently to restore a real democracy to that country,” Pompeo said.

In reaction to the claims, Qassemi warned that any foreign intervention in Venezuela's domestic affairs would be "unconstructive" and would merely further complicate the situation in the country.

Tehran believes that the solution to Venezuela's domestic problems is dialog among the country's political officials within legal frameworks, the Iranian spokesperson pointed out.

Venezuela, which sits atop the world’s largest oil reserves, has been struggling with a worsening economic situation over the past years, which has caused people to cross border into Colombia to purchase basic commodities and foodstuff.

Maduro has accused the US of being behind Venezuela’s economic crisis, saying Washington is orchestrating attempts to topple him as part of a wider offensive against Latin American leaders defying US hegemony.

SS