US Military Moves in Latin America Undermining Regional Peace, Security, Iran Warns

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned recent US threats against Venezuela, describing Washington’s military actions in Latin America as a dangerous development that undermines regional peace and security.

 Speaking at a weekly press conference on Tuesday, Esmaeil Baqaei said the world is witnessing a growing trend of unilateralism at the international level.

The most fundamental principles of international law are the prohibition of the use of force and respect for the sovereignty of states, he added, noting that such principles are being violated in Latin America under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.

Baqaei added that Iran views such US military movements as a serious threat to peace and regional stability.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has said the US government is “fabricating” a war against him as Washington sent the world’s biggest warship towards the South American country.

It signals a major escalation of the US’s military presence in the region amid speculation of an attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro, without providing evidence, of being the leader of the organized crime gang Tren de Aragua.

As tensions are mounting in the region, Trump said he has authorized CIA operations in Venezuela and that he is considering ground attacks against alleged drug cartels in the Caribbean country.

Since September 2, US forces have bombed 10 boats, with eight of the attacks occurring in the Caribbean, for their role in allegedly trafficking drugs into the US. At least 43 people have died in the attacks.

United Nations officials and scholars of international law have said that the strikes are in clear violation of US and international law and amount to extrajudicial executions.

Since August, Washington has deployed a fleet of eight US Navy ships, 10 F-35 warplanes and a nuclear-powered submarine for anti-drug operations, but Caracas maintains these maneuvers mask a plan to overthrow the Venezuelan government.