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Bolton: Maduro's Capture Alarms Iran's Ayatollah Amid Regime Unrest

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton suggests the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro served as a stark warning to Iran's leadership amid its own domestic unrest. He states that the Iranian regime is "coming apart" as anti-government demonstrations continue and expand across the country. Bolton also criticizes President Trump's approach to reviving Venezuela's oil industry, arguing it requires billions in long-term investment, not quick fixes. He advocates for the U.S. to consult directly with the Iranian opposition to support their push for political change.

Key Points: Bolton on Iran Unrest & Maduro's Impact on Ayatollah

  • Iran's anti-regime protests are expanding
  • Top of Iranian regime showing fractures
  • Maduro's capture a key warning to Iran
  • Venezuela's oil revival needs massive investment
  • Trump's approach to Venezuela oil criticized
3 min read

Capture of Maduro probably caught Ayatollah's attention more than anything else: Ex-US NSA Bolton

Ex-US NSA John Bolton says Iran's regime is "coming apart," and Maduro's capture likely alarmed its leadership more than protests. Analysis on Venezuela's oil.

"What probably caught the Ayatollah's attention more than anything else was the capture of Maduro. - John Bolton"

Washington DC, January 7

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton suggested that the Iranian regime is "coming apart", amid the "continuing, expanding" anti-regime demonstrations, and that the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro "probably caught the Ayatollah's attention more than anything else."

Speaking to ANI on US President Donald Trump's statement on Iranian protests, Bolton said, "What probably caught the Ayatollah's attention more than anything else was the capture of Maduro. They should be worried. But I think it's better to act rather than engage in rhetoric, as Trump does... in Iran, the anti-regime demonstrations are continuing and expanding. There are indications that at the top of the Iranian regime, it's really beginning to come apart... This is a time when the US and others should consult the Iranian opposition and ask what they can do to help... Let the people of Iran decide what kind of government they want."

Sporadic protests have erupted in Iran's capital, Tehran, and several other cities, with local media reporting intensifying clashes in parts of the country, particularly in the west.

The demonstrations, which began in late December, initially saw shopkeepers staging strikes over economic grievances before expanding in scale and scope. Protesters later raised political demands, Al Jazeera reported.

When asked about the impact of the current political situation in Venezuela on its oil production, Former National Security Advisor of the United States, Bolton told ANI, "The loss of Venezuelan production in international markets is insignificant... One reason, apart from the sanctions, why Venezuela produces so little oil is that its drilling, shipping, and other capacities are so degraded and dilapidated. Here's where Trump makes another fundamental mistake by thinking that foreign investment by US or other foreign oil companies can suddenly or quite quickly increase Venezuela's oil production, which is absolutely wrong. This is going to take billions of dollars of new capital investment over an extended period of time before there's any real impact on Venezuelan production."

US President Donald Trump, who on Saturday said Washington would move to take control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves and encourage American companies to invest billions of dollars to revive the country's weakened oil industry, CNN reported.

Trump made the remarks after the United States carried out what it described as a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, during which Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
Bolton is right about one thing—the economic grievances are real. People protest when they can't make ends meet. We see similar frustrations in many parts of the world. Hope for a peaceful resolution in Iran. 🙏
R
Rohit P
The capture of Maduro sets a dangerous precedent. Imagine if powerful countries start capturing leaders they don't like? Where does it end? India has always believed in sovereignty and non-interference. This is worrying for global order.
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Priya S
The oil part is crucial. Trump thinking US companies can just walk in and fix Venezuela's oil industry overnight shows a lack of understanding. Rebuilding takes years and stable governance. Sounds like a recipe for more chaos, not less.
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Michael C
As someone following geopolitics, Bolton's point about the regime "coming apart" from the top is significant. Internal fractures often lead to change. But external powers must be very careful not to exploit the situation for their own gain.
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Nisha Z
Respectfully, I think Bolton is being a bit dramatic. The Iranian regime has survived pressure for decades. While the protests are serious, declaring it's "coming apart" might be wishful thinking from a known hawk. The situation needs calm analysis, not escalation.

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