Iran FM urges intl. community, UN to voice decisive opposition to attack on Venezuela

Condemning the military violation of Venezuelan territory and the kidnapping of President Nicholas Maduro, Araghchi characterized the recent US operation as a blatant breach of the UN Charter and the fundamental rules of international law.

Speaking in a phone conversation with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez late on Monday, Araghchi extended his praise to the Cuban people and government for their steadfast resilience against “illegal economic blockades and foreign threats.”

For his part, Rodríguez condemned Washington’s destabilizing actions in the Caribbean and Latin America, specifically denouncing the illegal aggression against Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The Cuban top diplomat stressed the urgent need for friendly nations to coordinate their defense against the "belligerent unilateralism" practiced by the United States, reaffirming Cuba’s refusal to bow to external intimidation.

‘U.S. actions threaten global order’

Expanding the diplomatic front, Araghchi also held consultations with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

During the call, the Iranian minister warned of the catastrophic consequences of American "bullying" on the rule of law.

He asserted that such unilateral acts normalize the illegal use of force and threaten the very foundations of the global legal order.

Minister Vieira echoed Iran’s principled stance, confirming that the US abduction of a sitting president of a sovereign nation constitutes a direct violation of the UN Charter.

He informed his Iranian counterpart that Brazil would be aggressively pursuing the matter through the UN Security Council, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

The diplomatic outcry comes in the wake of a shocking escalation in which US forces abducted the Venezuelan President from his own soil on Saturday.

This occurs as Cuba and Iran simultaneously face renewed threats from Washington.

An emboldened US President Donald Trump has hinted that he has other countries in his sights after kidnapping Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.

Trump took aim at Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, Mexico, and Iran in a short exchange with reporters on Sunday. 

Trump claimed Sunday that Cuba, an ally of Venezuela, was "ready to fall."

The communist-run island, a few dozen miles from Florida, has long been in the sights of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants.

Havana said 32 Cuban bodyguards were killed in the operation to seize Maduro.

‘US op. state terrorism’

Meantime, Iran’s UN envoy condemned the US operation in Venezuela as “state terrorism” and a violation of the UN Charter during an emergency Security Council session on Monday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the military attack carried out by the United States of America against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said.

“This illegal act constitutes state terrorism, a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the norms of international law, and amounts to an internationally wrongful act and a full-fledged act of aggression,” the Iranian envoy added.

He said the “military aggression” against a UN member state represents a “serious breach” of international peace and security with “far‑reaching consequences.”

The envoy said the capture of Maduro and his wife is a “flagrant violation of customary international law” and of the “principles of the inviolability and immunities accorded to heads of state.”

Iravani said the action constitutes a “grave assault on the sovereign equality of states,” reaffirming Iran’s full support for the Venezuelan people and government.

He criticized the “continued inaction” of the UN Security Council in the face of US “threats and acts of aggression,” saying it has created a “dangerous climate of impunity.”

The representative noted that Trump has repeatedly issued public threats of force against Iran while claiming to support the Iranian people.

“Iran reaffirms its inherent right to defend its society, territorial integrity, and national security,” the envoy said. “The United States of America will bear full responsibility for the consequences arising from its unlawful threats.”

He was referring to Trump’s recent warnings that Washington would attack Iran if Iranian police forces shoot and kill “peaceful protesters.”

Several cities in Iran have recently witnessed riots under the pretexts of cost‑of‑living concerns amid currency depreciation, resulting in several casualties.

Iranian officials say they respect legitimate livelihood concerns and are working to address them, while vowing to confront rioters and foreign‑backed instigators.