Venezuelan ambassador denies uranium exports to Iran

The Venezuelan ambassador to Iran is one of ardent Chavez’s followers, and believes it is impossible to damage Tehran-Caracas relations.

“Venezuelan National Week in Tehran is one of the most important events between the two countries. In the past, we were deprived of real history but thanks to Commander Chavez, we now have a history we are proud of. The world believes that Chavez gave Venezuela its history back. In this week, we can share our history with Iranians and found more space in Iranians’ hearts. We try to make the real truth about Venezuela heard in Iran and the world,” said the Venezuelan Ambassador to Tehran Amenhotep Zambrano, Ava Diplomatic reported.

Commenting on the new presidents in office in both Iran and Venezuela he said there were many who wanted to tarnish Iran-Venezuela ties but we will continue relations in foreign policy and in anti-imperialist struggle just like when President Hugo Chavez was in power.

He said there are certain people who are against Tehran-Caracas relations. “Western media and those who hate Venezuela and Iran and anti-Islamists work in this direction. Also, these elements make anti-Iranian and anti-Venezuelan movies in Hollywood and think on the one hand that Iran seeks to make a nuclear bomb while on the other hand they cannot understand Venezuela does not serve as US’ backyard anymore and has reached independence,” he added.

Iran and Venezuela will continue their political, economic, and cultural relations just like when President Hugo Chavez was in power and we will not allow any element to tarnish the ties between the two countries, Zambrano said Saturday. He expressed hope that a day will come that we see a multipolar world wherein sustainable peace can be established.

“Iran and Venezuela are free to decide what countries they want to establish relation with. The two countries’ relation is far from an ordinary one. The two countries have a lot in common in politics because the two leaders have freedom-seeking ideas and have always had the courage to condemn allegations and convictions against Iran and Venezuela in international assemblies such as those of UN,” the Venezuelan diplomat added.

“Others have also understood that they cannot speak with Iran and Venezuela by force but issues can be resolved through talks and peace. Hugo Chavez named me ambassador to Iran 9 months before his death. This shows that Iran is a priority for Caracas. Even on the worst days of his disease, Chavez thought of the expansion of ties between the two countries. It is now our duty to continue his way of thinking,” Zambrano said.

“Chavez always said Venezuela is the heart of Latin America, unifying the countries in the region. Now, after 7 month on my mission in Iran I figure out Iran is the pillar of the Middle East and plays the most significant role in the region considering its foreign policy. Tehran is doing its utmost to foster unity among regional countries in order to contribute to the restoration of peace in the region,” he continued.

“In UN General Assembly, on the one hand US justifies wars and conflicts and on the other hand, Iran as well as Venezuela, Russia and China promote peace and fellowship,” Venezuelan envoy Zambrano reiterated.

“Obama’s speech in the UN was meant to show that all countries disapprove of US’ ideas,” he added.

“There might be some huge disputes in Iran but these will never leak out and will be resolved inside Iran. We are revolutionaries always under the US’ magnifying glass but the US administration does not respect our revolution. The United States did its best to financially support saboteurs so that it can tarnish Maduro’s measures but failed. It is now five months Maduro has become Venezuela’s president but they cannot accept he was elected by the people’s ballots.”

He also said that a high-ranking Venezuelan delegation would pay an official visit to Iran next week and an Iranian parliamentary delegation would also visit the Latin American country in the future. Iran and Venezuela are members of the Non-Allied Movement (NAM).

“We are going to have a conference to be attended by gas exporting NAM members and Venezuela has also been invited to participate. It is not yet clear who attends the conference but Venezuela is attending at ministerial level. There are constant negotiations and dialogues between Iran and Venezuela. The two ambassadors are in touch with each other. For a while, due to some domestic problems in Venezuela, an interval occurred in visits by the two countries’ officials but they will now be resumed,” added Venezuelan Ambassador to Tehran Amenhotep Zambrano.

“The United States should know that it cannot decide for Latin American countries neither with its military doctrine nor through its embassies in other countries. Europe and the United States are no longer examples for the Latin American countries,” he said.

Explaining on news that Venezuela has not paid for the Iranian oil tankers it has received he said the problem will be resolved soon. Officials of the two countries are negotiating on the issue but some enemies are hindering the talks, according to the official. “The main issue is that the required permission should be issued and both sides should reach an agreement. It is one of the main issues to be discussed when the Venezuelan delegation arrives in Tehran,” he explained.

He also denied news that Venezuela will likely export uranium to Iran, saying such kind of news stories are published by Israel because when they cannot directly resist Iran, try to sabotage through their media.

Explaining Venezuela’s stance on the possibility of Iran-US rapprochement he said the issue has nothing to do with Tehran-Caracas relations. “As an independent country, Iran wants to establish ties with another independent country. This has nothing to do with Venezuela. Two months ago, the Iranian and Venezuelan presidents had a telephone conversation which was very friendly and directed toward further expansion of ties but the conversation between Obama and Rouhani was different and meant for settlement of the problems and differences. There are no two countries that can have relations as solid as Iran and Venezuela because they are both revolutionary countries,” he added.

“Whatever results the call might have, it will not affect Iran-Venezuela relations. We will continue to expand ties in order to establish sustainable peace. We hope the US will not be able to continue conflicts and disputes in the world. Both countries respect the adopted policies and there is an open relation between the two countries,” Venezuelan ambassador to Tehran. We should know that relations with the US are not like relation with Venezuela and Iran should know that what issue lay behind the relations.

Speaking of Iran-Venezuela cooperation, the Venezuelan ambassador said he is doing his best so that his country can use Iran’s experiences in medical, nano-technological, and pharmaceutical spheres so that the two countries can reach convergence in technology.