Moscow, Jan 3
Several countries across the globe, including Russia, Iran and Iran, on Saturday severely criticised the US military attack on Venezuela, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Moscow described the US action as "deeply concerning" and condemnable.
"The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism and a willingness to build relationships of trust and predictability," read a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Moscow insisted that that all partners who may have grievances against each other should seek solutions through dialogue and prevent further escalation.
"Latin America must remain the zone of peace it declared itself to be in 2014. And Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, outside intervention. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for the course of their Bolivarian leadership, aimed at protecting the national interests and sovereignty of the country," the statement added.
Russia also backed the statement by the Venezuelan authorities and the leadership of Latin American countries on the urgent convening of a meeting of the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile, Xinhua news agency reported, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel also on Saturday condemned what he described as the "criminal attack" by the United States against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community.
In a social media post, the president said that Latin America was being brutally assaulted, and called it "state terrorism against the brave people of Venezuela and against Our America."
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also condemned the ongoing US military aggression against Venezuela on Saturday.
In a message posted on social media, the diplomat said the bombings and military actions against Caracas and other localities in the country are cowardly acts against a nation that has not attacked the United States or any other country.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the US military attack on Venezuela, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an "act of aggression" and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states.
Earlier on Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of Venezuela," according to a post by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.
Iran reaffirmed Venezuela's right to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination, and urged the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibility by immediately halting what it described as a US "invasion" of the country.
The remarks come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. On Friday, Tehran said it would "forcefully reject" any interference in its internal affairs after Trump warned that Washington would act if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."
Protests have erupted since Sunday in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the national currency, the rial.
- IANS
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