Hanif Bismi
“If all nations operated like Iran and Venezuela, world peace and stability would replace endless wars of aggression against nations threatening no one”. Stephen Lendman
As of today, four of five Iranian tankers arrived in Venezuela as an Eid gift from Iran, to oil-starving Venezuela as a result of American sanctions. All tankers have been navigated according to the plan despite American threat.
Venezuelans celebrated when ”Fortune” the first tanker arrived at El Palito refinery on 25 May, as if they are celebrating Eid along with the people of Iran, after one-month long fasting.
Both Iran and Venezuela are contemporary strategic allies particularly since the presidency of Hugo Chavez. These two oil rich nations coagulated their”axis of unity”.
The first US sanctions were imposed on Iran by President Carter in November 1979 when Iran ousted American proxy Shah through a nonviolent popular revolution that shook the world. Since then US and its allies have continued to marginalise Iran on various fronts, including economic sanctions. Yet today Iran isthe most influential powerhouse in the region and beyond.
The relationship between Venezuela and the US began to deteriorate rapidly after Venezuelan President Chavez criticized US policy on Iraq, Haiti and Kosovo and called American President Bush ”the devil”.
American administration was enraged when Chavez extended friendship with Cuba and Fidel Castro byexpanding economic and social relationship when began to sell Cuba low priced oil. US envisaged not only this bilateral relationship between Venezuela and Cuba undermined the US policy of isolating Cuba but solidified relations with other nations worried about American hegemony in the region.
Venezuela further frustrated the US when Chavez consolidated diplomatic relationship with Iran and defended Iran’s civilian nuclear program. US becamehostile to Venezuela and imposed sanctions when Venezuela severed diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009.
Venezuela and Iran are the two founding members of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) founded on 14 September 1960, the other three members are Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.Now the OPEC has been transformed into OPEC+.
Today Venezuela is starving for gasoline despite havingthe largest proven oil reserves in the world. Crippling American economic sanctions pushed Venezuela to brink of collapse as a nation. American embargo is likely to kill more Venezuelans. Remember USsanctions killed million innocent children in Iraq and Iran continues to suffer. Sanctions are simply war crimes.
Trouble between US and Venezuela intensified when current president, Nicolas Maduro gave American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country on 10 January 2019.
Today Iran and Venezuela share the pain of American-imposed sanctions particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. US only intensified the inhuman sanctions on both countries despite calls to suspend sanctions amid pandemic.
During pandemic US has been trying to topple Maduro and create another Syria in Venezuela. Syrian President Assad whom US wanted to topple since 2011is the closest ally of Iran. But Iran proved its commitment and sincerity in support of the legitimate government of Assad. Iran did not allow Syria to become another Afghanistan. Today Bashar-al Assad remains as popular among his people as ever.
Iran once again proved steadfastness and commitment to Venezuela, a faraway ally. Iran took on the ultimate American threat and despatched its oil-tankers throughthe troubled Atlantic, making oil-starved Venezuela to celebrate. Iran is a friend indeed when a friend is in need.
Iran also proved to the rest of the world that the ‘Islamic Revolution’ is not just a religious alternative but a revolution of humanity, solidarity and resistance against aggression. ‘Islamic Revolution’ is beyond politics, it’s an ideology to preserve cultural and independent identity.
Today Iran and Venezuela are standing tall against Imperial USA, expressing affinity in suffering, serving as role-models for many nations choking under imperial oppression.
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