Iran Pledges 'Unconditional Support' to Maduro a Day After Trump Says the Venezuelan Leader's 'Days Are Numbered'

Iran has pledged "unconditional" support to Venezuela one day after President Donald Trump said authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro is spending his "last days" in power.

According to a statement from Venezuela's Foreign Ministry, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Maduro during a phone call that recent U.S. military actions in the Caribbean amount to "hostile provocations" that violate international law and create a "dangerous precedent." The ministry said Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's "full solidarity and unconditional support."

Pezeshkian also expressed confidence that the coming year would allow both governments to continue strengthening their strategic cooperation, as EFE reports. Maduro reportedly thanked Iran for its backing and conveyed "solidarity and affection" toward the Iranian people, adding that bilateral ties were in their "best moment."

The call followed remarks from Trump published Monday in POLITICO, in which he said Maduro is "living his last days" in office. Asked whether a ground invasion was possible, Trump declined to rule it out, pointing to an expanded U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean. Washington says the operation targets narcotrafficking; Caracas argues that rationale is a pretext intended to justify efforts to force a political transition.

Venezuela has responded by warning that it will defend the country against any attack "by land, sea, or air." Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said the government has shown a "determination to fight" in the face of U.S. threats.

Iran publicly reinforced that message earlier this month through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei who said the U.S. buildup "affects peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean" and called any threat against Venezuela's "legitimate and elected government" a violation of international law.

Baqaei urged the United Nations to prevent further escalation and said the U.S. strikes have been described as "extrajudicial and arbitrary executions."

Venezuelan officials welcomed the warning at the time, with Foreign Minister Yván Gil saying Iran's position "reinforces our commitment to defend the truth, our legitimate right to self-defense, and the search for peace."