Venezuela’s socialist government, historically aligned with Iran’s regime, expressed its discontent on Tuesday regarding remarks made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, which they deemed “derogatory and inappropriate.”
A video clip that has circulated online captures Araghchi during an interview with Iran’s state-run Mehr news agency, where he remarked that Iran is “not Venezuela” concerning negotiations with the United States.
“This is not Venezuela, where you take one person away and everyone else backs away in fear,” Araghchi stated in the video. A Venezuelan outlet, El Diario, shared this on Wednesday morning.
His comments appear to compare the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3 with Iran’s ongoing struggles against its regime.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs took action by summoning Iranian Ambassador Ali Cheghini, presenting documents that protested against “derogatory and inappropriate statements” aimed at their institutions and authorities.
The ministry called for a halt to “insinuations and comparisons” that undermine Venezuela’s dignity, sovereignty, and institutional integrity.
The exact nature of the “derogatory and inappropriate” remarks has yet to be disclosed by Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Venezuelan government emphasized its commitment to mutual respect and non-interference in international relations, which have historically characterized ties between Venezuela and Iran.
The Iranian embassy in Caracas confirmed that Ambassador Cheghini communicated in Spanish with officials from Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They asserted that Cheghini provided “relevant clarifications” to help clarify the foreign minister’s statements.
Separately, the embassy claimed Araghchi’s remarks were “incomplete and taken out of context,” arguing that the fragmentation of his statements led to misunderstandings regarding the historical relationship between Iran and Venezuela.
The Iranian embassy underscored that the minister’s remarks should not be interpreted as disrespect towards Venezuela’s people, institutions, or sovereignty.
This protest from Venezuela reflects a notable shift in the traditionally amicable relations with Iran.
Currently led by “acting president” Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s regime seems to be reassessing its ties with Iran following Maduro’s arrest. Earlier in March, they had released a statement condemning a military operation against Iran by the U.S. and Israel, although this was quickly retracted without any further explanation.
In 2025, under Maduro’s leadership, Venezuela was among the first allies to pin blame on Israel following military attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Maduro even organized a rally to express support for Iran, attended by key socialist figures.
Historical activist Hugo Chávez, who led since 1999, had strived to strengthen ties with Iran, bonding over shared anti-American sentiments. Following Chávez’s death, Maduro continued to foster these connections, expressing grief over the death of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Over his time in office, particularly in recent years, Maduro has depended on Iranian assistance to combat the impacts of Venezuela’s socialist decline and to rejuvenate the country’s distressed oil sector.
