Israel’s opposition leader urges Iran to ‘pay close attention’ to Venezuela
Israel‘s opposition leader urged Iran’s leaders to “pay close attention to what is happening in Venezuela” in what appeared to be a threat of violent regime change.
Yair Lapid made the comment in a brief post on X after the United States launched strikes on Venezuela and said it had captured President Nicolas Maduro.
His remarks came as officials and politicians around the world condemned the US operation in the oil-rich South American country as a violation of international law.
Iran, an ally of Venezuela, was among the first states to condemn the US for “the flagrant violation of [Venezuela’s] national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
“The US military attack on Venezuela constitutes a clear violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and the basic rules of international law,” the Iranian foreign ministry said.
It added that US military aggression could have worldwide consequences, underscoring Venezuela’s “inherent right to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to self-determination”.
Israel welcomed the removal Maduro.
“Israel welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror and hopes for the return of democracy to the country and for friendly relations between the states,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X.
Trump threatens Iran
On Friday, Trump threatened US intervention in Iran after protests erupted over the cost-of-living crisis.
“If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” he said.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, responded on X: “Trump should know that intervention by the US in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of US interests,” likely referring to US military bases in the region that Tehran could target as it did last year in Qatar.
Earlier this week, Trump said “that Iran is trying to build up again” after the US bombed its nuclear sites in June during a 12-day Israeli attack on the country.
“If they are, we’re going to have to knock them down… We’ll knock the hell out of them,” Trump said.
“But hopefully that’s not happening. I heard Iran wants to make a deal. If they want to make a deal, that’s much smarter,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met Trump earlier this week in the US, made it clear during interviews with American media that he was making the case for renewed military action against Iran and was seeking US backing.
“They were throwing their weight all over the place, exporting terrorism not only to every part of the Middle East, but to Venezuela,” Netanyahu told the Trump-aligned TV channel Newsmax.
“They’re in cahoots with the Maduro regime,” he said.
