The situation in Venezuela is serious. Despite being the country with the most oil reserves in the world, the economic crisis has meant that oil production has not brought any further losses. This has a direct impact on the functioning of the country, a country based on oil exports, which has been hampered by the crisis.

Coronavirus can cause problems not only in economics and health, but also in international diplomacy. The usual tensions between the United States and Iran have increased with Iran’s announcement that it would send oil tankers to Venezuela to avoid the disaster. “Those involved, no one else cares about this issue,” Iranian Government spokesman Ali Rabi replied to the threats.

A number of media reported that the United States has sent several boats to stop oil tankers in the North Atlantic. There was also talk of the imposition of new fines. Iran has announced that, if anything happens to oil tankers, it will launch military manoeuvres in the Strait of Ormuz. This strait is one of the most important in the world, as it unites oil producers in the Middle East. Local production extends to markets around the world, including the United States.

Venezuela, for its part, has been grateful to Iran and has stated that it will "protect" ships when they float in Venezuelan waters. The first Zarauztarra boat has already entered the country’s waters, where it has had to be fished.

Strategic Line

Although Venezuela has thanked Iran for "help", Iran is going to have benefits for those five boats, according to Maduro. Several media have reported that Venezuela is going to pay him nine tons of gold. Others have announced that they will make the exploitation of gold mines available to them. Iran has denied the data.

But in addition to the direct pay it can receive for ships, entering South American territory is geopolitically strategic for Iran. It has managed to enter the United States geographical orbit and strengthen ties with the country, Venezuela, which is the largest oil exporter in the world.

Two victims of the US "embargo"

Iran and Venezuela, each on their own, are two of the fundamental pillars of the oil industry. The two countries have damaged relations with Washington, which has banned the two countries from selling oil. The US Government has imposed very high oil economic sanctions on both countries.

The new operation, which does not concern only the two States, will also benefit another player sanctioned by the United States’ foreign policy. Mahan Airways, the airline fined by the United States for its role in the Syrian war, has announced several trips to Venezuela to carry out machinery to launch the petrochemical plant in Paraguay (Venezuela).