Biggest Iranian flotilla en route to Venezuela carrying fuel

The biggest Iranian fleet of tankers is reportedly en route to Venezuela carrying fuel for the South American oil-producing country, which is suffering from a severe gasoline shortage.

According to Press TV, citing unnamed people with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reported on Saturday that some of the flotilla of about 10 Iranian vessels will also help export Venezuelan crude after discharging fuel.

The shipment comes in defiance of illegal US sanctions targeting both Tehran and Caracas.

The US has imposed illegal sanctions on state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) as part of its push to oust President Nicolas Maduro, creating a crippling gasoline shortage in the once-prosperous OPEC nation.

In May, Iran sent five tankers loaded with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela to help jumpstart oil refineries in the Latin American state. The fleet surprised international observers as it crossed a Caribbean Sea patrolled by the US Navy to be greeted by Maduro himself upon arrival.

The current Venezuela-bound Iranian fleet is about double the size of the one sent in May.

Informed sources say the two countries are discussing ways for Iran to help Venezuela overhaul its Cardon refinery, the last fuel plant there to operate more or less regularly.

Venezuela supports trade with Iran, Turkey

The Venezuelan government is encouraging private firms to sign import and export deals with companies based in Asia to circumvent American sanctions.

Reports indicate that the plan is to expand on Venezuela’s existing commercial ties with allies, such as Iran and Turkey, and that Vice President and Finance Minister Delcy Rodriguez has been working on the strategy for over a year.

Because operations of private Venezuelan companies are not explicitly targeted by US restrictive measures, shifting trade away from state-run firms to private enterprises makes foreign partners more interested in Venezuela deals, the sources added.

They further noted that Venezuelan companies also benefit from trade with Iranian and Turkish firms as Western hemisphere businesses are scared of US sanctions.

SS