The Presidents of Iran and Venezuela praised the resilience of the people of the two countries in the face of tough pressures and sanctions, saying, "The passage of Tehran and Caracas through all-out US pressure is a good sign that proves to everyone that resistance works and forces the enemy to retreat”.

Speaking in a meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday morning, Ayatollah Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy is based on the development of relations with independent and friendly countries, saying, "As an independent country, Venezuela has resisted sanctions and threats of imperialism in an extraordinary way”.

The President said that the Iranian nation has always been under sanctions and pressure for the past 43 years, but has decided to turn these sanctions into an opportunity for the country's development, adding, "The official admittance of the Americans that maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran has miserably failed means the victory of the Iranian nation and the defeat of the United States and the enemies of this nation”.

"The resistance of the Venezuelan government and people to tough pressures and sanctions, the passage of the country through hyperinflation and the resumption of economic growth in this country is a good sign that proves to everyone that resistance forces the enemy to retreat," Dr Raisi said.

Ayatollah Raisi described the relations with Venezuela in various strategic areas and said that Tehran and Caracas have good capacities and grounds to improve the level of relations with each other, noting, "Today, the two countries have constructive cooperation in the field of energy, construction of thermal power plants, repair and overhaul of Venezuela’s refineries, export of technical and engineering services, economics and agriculture”.

"Venezuela is interested in using Iran’s experience in overcoming the tough times of sanctions and the country’s capabilities in different fields," said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, referring to the signing of the 20-year cooperation document between the two countries.

Referring to various areas of cooperation between the two countries, including oil, gas, refineries and petrochemicals, the Venezuelan president added, "One of our priorities for expanding cooperation with Iran is to use Iranian technology to develop agricultural production in Venezuela”.

Maduro called the future of Iran-Venezuela friendship very bright and said, "Everyone will see how the new world will be shaped; the Venezuelan and Iranian young people must know that the world of the future is a world of equality and justice, and we must all build this future by standing up to imperialism and working together”.

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