Middle East Tension Escalation Blamed on Israel's Alleged Genocide Crusade and UN's Inactivity by Venezuela
Rewritten Article:
April 15, 2024, Mexico City, Mexico (our website) - With tensions escalating in the Middle East, Venezuela has joined the global voices expressing concern, following Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel after a deadly Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil's official statement, shared over the weekend, emphasized the gravity of the situation, citing the "genocide in Palestine," the "irrationality of the Israeli regime," and the "inaction of the United Nations System" as catalysts for the region's Instability.
Addressing the United Nations (UN) Security Council during an emergency session, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the necessity for "maximum restraint" to forestall a potential military escalation.
Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saed Iravani, made it clear that Iran does not seek escalation or war. He stated, "Iran's operation was entirely in the exercise of its inherent right to self-defense." Iravani further criticized the Security Council's inaction in holding Israel accountable for their "war crimes" during the campaign in Gaza.
Iran retaliated against Israel by launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Israeli territory on Saturday. Many of these were intercepted by combined forces from Israel, the US, Britain, France, and some hit targets, including an airbase.
Criticizing the lack of action by the Security Council, Iravani also called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. For six months, resolutions condemning Israel and calling for a ceasefire were consistently blocked by a US veto. However, the UN Security Council finally passed a ceasefire resolution on March 25. Subsequently, US authorities engaged in a delegitimization campaign, suggesting that the resolution was non-binding despite unanimous calls for its implementation.
Like Venezuela, Latin American nations like Mexico and Chile have urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and expressed their support for international law. In January, these countries jointly referred the ongoing situation in Palestine to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The relationship between Venezuela and Iran has grown progressively closer in recent years, standing against US interference and sanctions. In 2022, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro traveled to Iran where he signed a 20-year cooperation agreement with his counterpart Ebrahim Raisi. The agreement covers various sectors, including oil, petrochemicals, tourism, and culture.
The ideological solidarity and economic resilience shared by both nations have been evident in their response to the Middle East tensions. Although specific actions related to these events are not documented, the broader diplomatic posture suggests a mutual anti-imperialist and multipolar stance against perceived U.S. and Western interventions.
In contrast to the generally critical responses from the US, Canada, and the European Union, Argentina's Javier Milei has expressed his unwavering support for Israel, even meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem during Israel's genocidal campaign. Venezuela has labeled Milei a "neo-nazi" after he publicly declared his interest in compelling other governments to impose coercive measures on Venezuela.
Amid these geopolitical shifts, the diplomatic and strategic ties between Caracas and Tehran have continued to strengthen, with potential implications in countering US sanctions and offering mutual support in future geopolitical crises.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
- Venezuela, echoing global concerns, specifically highlighted the Middle East's instability following Iran's retaliatory strikes on Israel, with their foreign minister, Yván Gil, citing the situation in Palestine as a catalyst.
- During an emergency session at the UN Security Council, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of restraint to prevent further military escalation, a sentiment shared by Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saed Iravani, who stated that Iran does not seek war or escalation.
- Criticizing the Security Council's inaction in holding Israel accountable for their actions in Gaza, Iravani called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to intervene, similar to the action taken by Latin American nations like Mexico and Chile, who, like Venezuela, have urged for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
- The strained relationship between Iran and Israel worsened after Iran retaliated against Israeli territory with drones and missiles, resulting in a ceasefire resolution being passed by the UN Security Council on March 25, a resolution that was met with delegitimization efforts by the US authorities despite unanimous calls for its implementation.
