Venezuelan grassroots groups defy government silence to support Iran

Grassroots movements in Venezuela have condemned recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, issuing messages of support and solidarity for Tehran.

According to Venezuela Analysis, on Saturday, February 28, the International Platform for Solidarity with the Palestinian Cause and the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force were among the organizations that issued statements rejecting the military actions of Washington and Tel Aviv.

The organizations condemned the bombardment of Iranian territory, including civilian targets, characterizing the operations as grave violations of international law.

The International Platform for Solidarity with the Palestinian Cause expressed “profound outrage” over the deaths of more than 175 people following the bombing of a girls’ school in Minab.

“This despicable act will not break the heroic resistance of the Iranian people, who have shown dignified resistance against imperialist and Zionist aggression,” the platform stated.

The Alexis Vive Patriotic Force emphasized that the recent attacks were not isolated incidents but “another attempt to impose regime change and undermine Iran’s right to self-determination.”

The organization, a driving force of the El Panal Commune in the capital, Caracas, stated: “These actions aim to reshape the political map of West Asia in favor of the strategic interests of Washington and Tel Aviv.”

The Venezuelan chapter of Alba Movimientos, a continental alliance of social movements, issued a similar declaration, proclaiming “unlimited solidarity” with Iran and calling on multilateral organizations to prevent the “warmongering” of the US and Israel.

Grassroots organizations in Venezuela are planning a rally in front of the Iranian embassy in Caracas on Tuesday, March 3, to condemn the aggression against Iran and reiterate their support.

Caracas in solidarity with Qatar

On Saturday, the Venezuelan government stated that it “condemned and was deeply saddened” by the “preference for the military option” in the attacks on Iran while diplomatic talks were ongoing, though it did not name the US or Israel as the perpetrators.

The statement condemned Iran’s retaliatory actions as “inappropriate and condemnable military retaliation against targets in various countries in the region” and concluded with a call for all parties to return to negotiations.

The government’s stance triggered widespread criticism on social media and was removed from the official accounts of the Foreign Ministry and the Telegram and X platforms of Foreign Minister Yván Gil on Saturday evening.

Venezuelan leaders, including Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, have not issued any explanation regarding the publication and subsequent removal of the statement.

On Monday, Rodríguez reported that during a phone conversation with Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, she expressed sentiments of “solidarity” in the face of “violence and instability” in the region.

“I expressed my condolences and deep concern for the loss of civilian lives due to the ongoing conflicts, and reiterated our call for respect for international law and the preservation of peace,” the Executive Vice President wrote.

Caracas’s recent posture contrasts with its previous stance, which fiercely condemned US and Israeli actions in West Asia, including the genocide in Gaza, attacks on Lebanon, and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Steps back from the “revolutionary brotherhood” stance of the Chavez era accelerate

Venezuela had firmly supported Iran, one of its strongest allies over the last quarter-century, against foreign aggression, including during the war against Israel in June 2025.

During the presidency of Hugo Chávez (1999–2013), Caracas and Tehran established a multidimensional strategic alliance based on a commitment to oppose US expansion and build a multipolar world.

During this period, more than 270 bilateral agreements were signed in sectors such as energy, housing, agriculture, and technology.

These close ties, described by both governments as “revolutionary brotherhood,” served as a vital lifeline when both countries faced economic sanctions led by the US.

Venezuela benefited from Iran’s technology transfer in areas such as drone production, cement, and vehicle assembly.

Iran delivered significant fuel shipments in 2020, despite US threats, as the Venezuelan economy staggered under coercive measures from Washington.