Iran says relations with Venezuela unchanged despite US ousting of Maduro

By AFP 5 January 2026, 10:27 am

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This screengrab taken from the X account of Rapid Response 47, an official White House account, shows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) escorted by DEA agents inside the headquarters of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Manhattan, New York, January 3, 2026. (X account of Rapid Response 47 / AFP)

Iran says that its relations with close ally Venezuela remained unchanged despite the United States capturing its leader Nicolas Maduro and taking him to New York for trial.

“Our relations with all countries, including Venezuela, are based on mutual respect and will remain so,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei says at a press conference. “We are in contact with the Venezuelan authorities.”