Maduro’s Commentary on Israel-Iran Conflict
On Monday evening, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro stated that only the Chinese Communist Party’s Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold the ability to bring resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Maduro remarked, “Only honorable leaders like Putin and President Xi Jinping could reconstruct this situation and bring it to a state of ceasefire, negotiations, dignified agreements, and a state of enduring peace.” Interestingly, he didn’t specify if he saw himself as part of this “honorable leadership” group.
Since taking power in 2013, Maduro’s socialist regime has been a staunch ally of Iran, further bolstering its ties with both China and Russia over the years. This alignment seems to have deepened as Maduro’s administration has leaned more heavily on Iran for support amidst the failures arising from Venezuela’s economic crisis.
Recently, Iranian Chairman Mohammad Bagheri visited Caracas, urging both nations to strengthen their relations to counter perceived threats. Maduro had previously critiqued Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian military targets.
Over the weekend, Maduro intensified his denunciations of Israel, labeling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the “Hitler of the 21st century” while casting doubt on Netanyahu’s Jewish heritage. He argued that Israel’s actions are part of a Western-supported agenda that echoes the historical atrocities committed by Hitler.
Maduro also expressed skepticism about whether European leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, could mediate the conflict, predicting that Netanyahu would disregard them.
He stated, “We encouraged, armed, and pushed Hitler until London and Paris turned on Hitler himself.”
Furthermore, the Venezuelan leader reaffirmed his backing for the Iranian regime, asserting that Iran is entitled to self-defense measures, including possibly closing the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.
“Iran can escalate plans to ensure its rights,” Maduro added, suggesting that in times of war, the triggers are known, whereas the endpoints are much less predictable. He highlighted that only those able to bring the conflict to a close bear the responsibility.
During his remarks, Maduro expressed solidarity with various groups—such as Palestinians and Syrians—while advocating for Arab unity in the face of conflict.
He also mentioned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as playing a significant role in the peace process, despite the fact that neither Iran nor Turkey is Arab. This point was left unacknowledged by Maduro.
His assertion that only Xi and Putin can effectively deal with the Israeli-Iranian issue seems to echo claims made recently by Tim Walz, the former Democratic vice-presidential candidate, who suggested that China could be a mediator due to its so-called “moral authority.” Walz pondered, “Who has the voice and moral authority to negotiate an agreement?”
