Iran, Russia Agree on Peaceful Resolution to Venezuela Crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the ongoing situation in Venezuela, and said both countries need to help international efforts to peacefully resolve the crisis.

“Iranian and Russian foreign policy chiefs have agreed to help international efforts to improve the situation in Venezuela based on the United Nations charter that urges for common understanding and establishing peace,’ according to the Foreign Ministry Zarif and Lavrov said in their conversation on the phone.

Venezuela is gripped by another crisis that is threatening the government of President Nicolas Maduro. One month ago, the country’s Parliament Speaker Juan Guaidó declared himself as the Latin American country’s interim president and called for new elections.

Mohsen Baharvand, Director-General for the Americas at Iran Foreign Ministry has recently held negotiations with his Russian counterparts in Moscow, agreeing that Iran and Russia are against any foreign intervention in Venezuela.

“Iran and Russia believe that Administration of President Nicolas Maduro is the country’s legal government and everybody needs to respect Venezuela’s Constitution,” he told IRNA a few days ago.

The Iranian official added that Tehran supports Venezuela’s legal government’s proposals to initiate negotiations with the opposition to resolve the issues without foreign interference.

Ties with China priority for Iran

On the other hand in Beijing, the Iranian economy minister said on Tuesday that the development of relations with China is a priority for Iran, IRNA reported.

Iran’s leadership attaches much significance to political and economic cooperation with China, Iran’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Farhad Dejpasand said at the 17th Iran-China joint economic commission.

Holding the commission regularly is an indication that the two countries are resolved to implicate their two economic plans, he added.

The 17th commission is of great importance because at the meeting strategic, fundamental relations are going to be established, the Iranian minister further said.

The commission was held in Beijing and attended by the two countries’ ministers of economy.

The two sides discussed ways of broadening cooperation between Tehran and Beijing on investment, trade, finance, banking, communication, energy, environment, agriculture, science, education and tourism.

They also urged widening of bilateral trade and called for more efforts to remove obstacles in the way to further expand trade and economic relations.

On the sidelines of the meeting, two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed by authorities of Iran and China chambers of commerce, and China Chamber of Commerce for Import-Export of Medicines and Health Products.

The previous joint economic commission of Iran and china was held in Tehran.

R.S