Colombia: Venezuela wants to buy missiles from Iran

The Colombian president says Venezuela wants to buy missiles from Iran and provide them to Colombian rebels.

Ivan Duque said on Thursday, August 20, that the government of Nicolas Maduro wants to buy missiles from the Islamic Republic and provide them, along with Russian and Belarusian weapons, to Colombian paramilitary and rebel groups.

His remarks came hours before the US requested the UN Security Council to reinstate all international sanctions against Iran.

The US says that arms embargoes on Iran should be extended, an issue that was previously raised in the Security Council and did not receive enough votes, after which the US said it would activate the "trigger mechanism" in the JCPOA against Iran, which would restore all sanctions against Iran.

Colombia, among 50 countries in the world, does not recognize Maduro's presidency, calling him a dictator and recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as the leader of Venezuela.

Mr. Duque says that the Colombian government has received information from international intelligence agencies that shows that Venezuela is trying to buy Iranian missiles and Russian and Belarusian weapons and provide them to Colombian militias.

He said that Iranian missiles have not yet entered Venezuela, but the country wants to buy medium-range and long-range missiles from Iran.

Iran sent 1.5 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela three months ago, restoring part of Venezuela's idle capacity.

The Islamic Republic also recently shipped 1.1 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela, which was seized by the United States. Iran also opened a large store in Venezuela last month. The United States says Venezuela delivered 9 tons of gold to Iran on Mahan Air flights.

Source: Radio Farda