WANA (Dec 24) – A group of lawmakers in Iran’s Parliament has issued a statement condemning recent actions by the United States against Venezuela, including the seizure and pursuit of oil tankers in the Caribbean region, and reaffirming Venezuela’s sovereign right to defend its legitimate national interests.

 

During a public parliamentary session on Wednesday, December 24, Mojtaba Bakhshipour, a member of the Parliament’s Presidium, read out the statement on behalf of 150 Iranian lawmakers, formally expressing the Majles’ support for the Venezuelan government and people.

 

In the statement, the lawmakers described the recent U.S. measures as a violation of well-established principles of international law. They stressed that the seizure of, or interference with, commercial vessels on the high seas without authorization from competent international bodies contravenes the principle of freedom of navigation and the fundamental rules of the international law of the sea, and may constitute an act of maritime piracy.

Iran Condemns U.S. Military Activities Near Venezuela

Iran Condemns U.S. Military Activities Near Venezuela. Social media/ WANA News Agency

The statement also warned that the expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and the conduct of naval operations near Venezuela’s borders are contributing to rising tensions and growing security instability in the region. According to the lawmakers, such actions are in clear conflict with the principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

 

Elsewhere in the statement, Iran’s lawmakers pointed to the broader record of U.S. military and political interventions around the world, arguing that such involvement has repeatedly led to insecurity and instability. They held Washington directly responsible for any escalation of tensions, regional instability, or unintended political and security consequences resulting from what they described as illegal and provocative actions.

 

In conclusion, the Iranian Parliament declared its solidarity with the Venezuelan nation and government, calling for the removal of threats, sanctions, and external pressure against Venezuela, and reaffirming support for the country’s right to safeguard its sovereignty and pursue its legitimate interests within the framework of international law.