In a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Saturday, Prieto denounced pressures and threats posed by the US government against Venezuela.
He further hailed Iran’s struggles against US sanctions and unilateral foreign pressures as “remarkable” and said, “Venezuela wants to use your experiences of countering sanctions.”
“We should use any threat or pressure that the US imposes on us as an opportunity to strengthen our relationship,” said Prieto, who is also the Venezuelan minister of planning.
Zarif, for his part, said Iran always supports the demands of the Venezuelan people and government, and expressed the hope that the Caracas government would be able to restore stability and peace to the country.
Iran and Venezuela enjoy a high level of diplomatic ties and are known as allies, as both are opposed to the US policies.
While street riots and anti-government protests have escalated in Venezuela in recent months, Iran has voiced backing for Venezuela’s democratically elected government, saying Tehran supports talks between the government and the opposition for peaceful resolution of differences.