The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran issued a statement on Wednesday in condemnation of the illegal actions of the United States against Venezuela.
The statement said Iran strongly condemns the threatening statements and actions of the US against Venezuela, including threats of a maritime blockade and the obstruction of the country’s lawful oil exports.
These US positions and actions are clear manifestations of a policy based on the use of force and systematic bullying, and constitute a gross violation of well-established principles and rules of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, including freedom of navigation, maritime security, and freedom of international trade, the statement added.
The Foreign Ministry stated that any action by the US to harass, seize, or obstruct the free movement of commercial vessels to or from Venezuela constitutes a clear example of state piracy and armed robbery at sea.
Invoking US domestic laws and its unilateral and illegal sanctions to justify such actions cannot, under any circumstances, serve as a basis for portraying these criminal acts as legitimate, it added.
The statement emphasized that threats, economic blockade, and the use of force against an independent UN member state represent an explicit violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, particularly the principles of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force.
No power has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of Venezuela, and under the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, this country enjoys the inherent right to defend itself against any external threat or aggression, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
The continuation of the US’ aggressive unilateralism against independent countries, if met with a lack of responsible response by the international community and the United Nations, will lead to the emergence of a dangerous precedent and the normalization of lawlessness in international relations, the consequences of which will disrupt global peace and security as a whole, the statement warned.
It finally noted that Iran expects the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and all responsible governments and relevant international bodies, with a clear understanding of the current critical situation, to condemn the illegal and force-based actions of the US and to hold the US government accountable for its flagrant violations of international law and the UN Charter.