Iran, Venezuela sign two-decade cooperation deal
Iran and Venezuela signed a 20-year deal on cooperation between the two allies subject to US sanctions during a visit Saturday to the Islamic republic by Venezuela's President Nicholas Maduro.
The signing of the agreement "shows the determination of the high-level officials of the two countries for development of relations in different fields," Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said.
Maduro, speaking at a joint news conference in the Iranian capital, said the cooperation covered the energy and financial sectors as well as "work together on defence projects".
Alongside the likes of Russia, China, Cuba and Turkey, Iran is one of Venezuela's main allies. And like Venezuela it is subject to tough US sanctions.
In addition to the 20-year accord inked by the two countries' foreign ministers, "Iran and Venezuela signed documents on cooperation in the political, cultural, tourism, economic, oil and petrochemical fields".
"We have important projects of cooperation between Iran and Venezuela in the fields of energy, petrochemical, oil, gas and refineries," Maduro said.
Also Ayatollah Khamenei met with the visiting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Tehran.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran and Venezuela have managed to withstand heavy pressures and the hybrid warfare of the United States, stressing that resistance is the sole path to victory.
"Today, the US views Venezuela differently compared to the past," the Leader said.
