Continuing violations of international sanctions; another ship from Iran delivers fuel to the Maduro regime
According to Bloomberg News, despite international sanctions against the Islamic Republic and the Maduro regime, an Iranian ship carrying fuel for the Nicolas Maduro regime entered Venezuelan maritime territory.
According to information obtained by Bloomberg about the movement of oil tankers, the Iranian oil tanker "Forest" entered Venezuelan waters on the morning of Monday, October 28, and headed towards the El Palito port refinery.
The Forest is one of three Iranian tankers carrying hundreds of thousands of barrels of fuel to Venezuela.
US sanctions have limited Venezuela's ability to import fuel from international markets.
The oil-rich country of Venezuela is in dire need of fuel due to years of mismanagement and widespread corruption by the ruling regime, lack of investment in the energy sector, and sanctions, and discontent there has increased as a result of deteriorating economic conditions, including fuel shortages.
Previously, Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the US State Department, said in an interview with the Persian service of the Voice of America: "Iran and Venezuela are two sanctioned countries that have found no way out except to work together. These two countries have failed regimes and ineffective systems."
According to Bloomberg, the isolation of Iran and Venezuela has led the two countries to establish closer ties, as oil companies and international shipping companies avoid dealing with Venezuela for fear of sanctions-related penalties.
Iran has previously sent fuel shipments to Venezuela. In August of this year, the US Department of Justice announced in a statement that the United States had seized the cargoes of four ships carrying Iranian fuel, containing about 1.16 million barrels of crude oil.
The US Secretary of State also said on Friday, September 19, that the United States wants to establish democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, and to achieve this goal, Nicolas Maduro, the head of that country's illegitimate regime, must step down from power.
The United States and nearly 60 other countries consider the regime of Nicolas Maduro illegitimate and recognize Juan Guaido, the leader of Maduro's opposition, as the interim and legitimate president of Venezuela.
Source: Voice of America
