Nicolás Maduro: “Buying Iranian Missiles Seems Like a Very Good Idea”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated on Wednesday, October 28th, that he thinks it is “a great idea” to buy long-range missiles from Iran. In a press conference with international media, Maduro again referred to the accusation of Colombian President Iván Duque, who asserted in August that a transaction of this nature had already taken place.

“I said it was not so, but that Venezuela can buy weapons from any country it wishes. I said I thought it was a very good idea and why not. In due time we will consider the Iranian offer,” he said. He also described the relationship between Venezuela and Iran as one of “deep spiritual, political and cultural brotherhood, which has been in place for many years.”

The statement comes two days after the U.S. envoy to both the Caribbean country and the Islamic theocracy, Elliott Abrams, warned that Donald Trump’s administration will “eliminate” any weapons of this magnitude that might reach Venezuela.

In a conversation with Fox News, the official said that Donald Trump’s administration “will spare no effort” to prevent such a situation, but, in the event that the weapons reach the Caribbean country “they will be eliminated there.”

Media have clarified that while there are no indicators that point to an imminent transaction, “Iran has announced its intention to sell weapons and Venezuela is a clear target, as these two regimes isolated from the world already have a relationship”.

“Venezuela pays with gold for Iran’s gasoline shipments, and there is an Iranian presence in the country. Venezuela’s economy has collapsed, so every bar of gold that goes to Iran represents tens of thousands of dollars that the Venezuelan people need for food and medicine,” added Abrams.

In another passage of Maduro’s speech, he referred to the departure from the country of opposition leader Leopoldo López, who on Saturday secretly left the residence of the Spanish ambassador in Caracas and, after secretly crossing the border into Colombia, boarded a plane bound for Spain, where he was reunited with his wife Lilian Tintori and their children.

“Leopoldo López is going to Spain defeated by the revolutionary forces. He is fleeing from a definitive sentence, from a trial in which he attended and turned himself in,” said Maduro, in reference to the proceedings against him based on the 2014 protests in Venezuela, and which multiple international organizations condemned for being politically motivated.

He also threatened the country’s de facto president Juan Guaidó, recognized by over 50 countries, assuring that “he is going to end up in Spain with López”. He said that “they will persuade him to flee the country” and that from that moment on “there will be a new opposition in Venezuela.”

Meanwhile, in reference to Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, he added: “You should get better information. You always make mistakes with Venezuela,” he said. Then he attacked the now ex-ambassador of the European country in Venezuela, Jesus Silva, at whose residence López was staying for over a year before leaving the country.

“Jesús Silva, you are leaving Venezuela. You are leaving next week, I wish we could arrange a plane for you to leave tomorrow. We never want to see your face in this country again,” he stated.

For his part, López said on Tuesday from Madrid that “no one has any doubt that Maduro is a criminal, a murderer, who leads a structure that has plundered and continues to plunder the wealth of Venezuelans.”

Maduro also reiterated his willingness to carry out the parliamentary elections next December 6th, despite the fact that the vast majority of the international community rejected its legitimacy due to lack of guarantees.

In reference to the European Union’s refusal to observe the elections for that very reason, he said that “more than 300 international observers have confirmed their presence in Venezuela for the elections.” “They come from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and even the United States,” he said, although not specifying which organizations they belong to.

Asked about the landing in Caracas of an Iranian plane sanctioned by the United States, Maduro refused to answer about its purpose. “They come from all over the world. Planes from the United States always land and no one asks why. They come to bring passengers, cargo, products. Many medicines have been brought on Iranian planes. We bought them in Asia and brought them that way. Also spare parts to fix the refineries,” he said.

He also refused to comment on reports that a Donald Trump administration official met in Mexico with the regime’s Minister of Communication, Jorge Rodríguez, to negotiate his removal from power.

“No comment. Let whatever is going to happen in the United States happen and I assure you that I will hold a press conference only for you and I will answer you,” he said to Bloombeg reporter Alex Vazquez, who had asked the question.

Source: infobae

More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error