Skip to main content

US 'coup' in Venezuela equally abhorred by Iran's hard-liners, Reformists

Iran's rival Reformist and hard-line political camps, which rarely see eye to eye, are now both expressing solidarity with Venezuela's incumbent president, blaming the United States for the crisis that has gripped the oil-rich South American nation.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (R) meets with Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Tehran, Iran October 22, 2016. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - S1AEUIMBOZAA

In a country where politics has been tightly entangled with people's daily lives for decades, it is no surprise to see an incessant flow of reactions to a political crisis — even if it is happening in a spot as far away as Latin America. Iranians have in recent days kept a close eye on the fast-paced developments in Venezuela, a nation that shares a lot with them. They both sit on immense oil reserves, grapple with stubborn inflation and have been targeted by US sanctions. 

Already suffering from destitution, unemployment and corruption, Venezuela plunged into further chaos last week after the new head of the country's National Assembly, Juan Guaido, backed by the United States and several European and Latin American states, declared himself interim president. Many frustrated Venezuelans have taken to the streets in recent days to call for the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.