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#Iran is bailing out Maduro in #Venezuela by sending:
-blending components used for producing gasoline
-workers, equipment for oil refining
-and discussed sending gasoline cargoes into Venezuela
And Iran says it needs money to address COVID-19.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
IRGC-affiliated Mahan Air’s (terrorist-designated) has direct flights between Iran and Venezuela.
a. Flight W5138 from Tehran to Las Piedras
fr24.com/IRM138/24652405
b. another Mahan Air Airbus A340-600 from Iran to Venezuela
#Iran’s oil money apparatus is full of corruption & profits are used to fuel terrorism.
Venezuela’s oil infrastructure is also very corrupt.
“former executive director of financial planning at PDVSA admitted he accepted millions of dollars in bribes”
miamiherald.com/news/local/art…
The Iran-Venezuela ties resulted in strong nuclear warnings:
“Washington must develop sensible policy options, particularly when it comes to Venezuela’s cooperation with Iran and Chavez’ own nuclear ambitions.”
cfr.org/expert-brief/v…
“Venezuela’s close ties with Iran and its significant untapped deposits of uranium--which might total as much as fifty thousand tons--raise questions about whether Caracas could pose a proliferation risk in the future.”
“Iran & Venezuela have already signed over 200 different memoranda of cooperation (ElUniversal). When it comes to uranium, cooperation might be a 2-way street, with Iran helping Venezuela (NYT) locate deposits & Venezuela helping Iran (FP) acquire some portion of them.”
Iran also pursues a missile base in Venezuela.
dailycaller.com/2011/01/03/is-…
“The factory is in a remote area, not far from a uranium deposit former Venezuelan officials estimate holds 50,000 tons of ore. Is it a stretch to connect the secret ‘tractor factory’ and the uranium?”
Chavez agreed to permit Iran build missile bases in the South American country.
And the Obama admin denied everything.
welt.de/politik/auslan…
“The cost of the Venezuelan military project is being paid for with Iranian oil revenue. The Iranians paid in cash for the preliminary phase of the project, which amounted to 'dozens of millions' of dollars," Die Welt wrote at the time.
jpost.com/International/…
This is interesting from the Obama years (& of course reported by CNN).
“The U.S. State Department said Saturday that it reviews all information pertaining to Iranian military involvement in the hemisphere, but that it could not vouch for the report.”
edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/ame…
"We have no evidence to support this claim & therefore no reason to believe the assertions made in the article are credible," State Dept. said in a statement… Maduro described the allegations as an "extravagant lie."
(Seen with his then #Iran counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki)
Back to the missile/uranium site:
The site was to “include missile defenses, special forces units, & control stations. Iran's oil revenue is reportedly going to the construction of bunkers, watch towers, barracks, & 65 foot deep rocket silos.”
businessinsider.com/iran-is-buildi…
“The leaders of Iran and Venezuela hailed what they called their strong strategic relationship, saying they are united in efforts to establish a ‘New World Order’ that will eliminate Western dominance over global affairs.”
foxnews.com/world/opinion-…
ADDENDUM:
For those interested, this thread sheds light on Iran, Venezuela, Hezbollah and their role in the "cocaine corridor."
ADDENDUM:
Update credit @ConflictsW
April 27—One of #Iran's IRGC Mahan Air A340s landing in Caracas, Venezuela.