Ismail Baqaei, the spokesman for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry, referred to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, by the United States as 'kidnapping' and stated, 'This incident was very dangerous.' Baqaei added, 'No responsible country and no country claiming legitimate sovereignty can remain indifferent to such a situation.' He further stated, 'The Islamic Republic and our armed forces are vigilantly monitoring Iran's borders and we are not going to rely on or trust Israel's words.'
❓ Unknown
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Calls Maduro's Arrest 'Kidnapping' and Says: 'This Incident Was Very Dangerous'
Jan 23, 2026
January 23, 2026
1 min read
📰 Iran International (Farsi)
📋 Key Takeaway
Ismail Baqaei condemned the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, labeling it as kidnapping and expressing concern over its implications. He emphasized Iran's vigilance regarding its sovereignty and dismissed reliance on Israeli statements.
🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line:
Iran condemns the U.S. arrest of Maduro, viewing it as a dangerous precedent.
👥 Key Players
Ismail Baqaei
MENTIONED
Spokesman for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry
"He represents Iran's official stance on international issues and communicates the government's foreign policy."
Nicolás Maduro
MENTIONED
President of Venezuela
"As the leader of Venezuela, Maduro is a key ally of Iran and his arrest by the U.S. could affect Iran-Venezuela relations."
📰 What Happened
The U.S. arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned as a 'kidnapping.' Iran expressed concern over the implications of this action.
- Ismail Baqaei called the arrest a 'kidnapping.'
- Iran emphasized its vigilance regarding its sovereignty.
💡 Why It Matters
🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran sees this as a potential threat to its allies and a challenge to its own sovereignty.
🌍 Regional: This could heighten tensions in regions where Iran and Venezuela have influence.
🌐 International: The arrest may strain U.S. relations with countries that view Maduro's leadership as legitimate.
📚 Background
Iran and Venezuela have strengthened ties in recent years, both facing U.S. sanctions and seeking to counter U.S. influence.
U.S.-Iran relations
Venezuela's political situation
📡 Source:
STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence:
70%
This perspective reflects the official stance of the Iranian government and may not represent independent viewpoints.
🌐
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%
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