For over seven decades, Iran and Venezuela have cultivated a partnership rooted in anti-imperialism, energy sovereignty, and multipolar diplomacy.

What began as formal diplomatic ties in 1947 has evolved into a robust alliance, particularly under the leadership of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution and Iran’s Islamic Republic.

Today, their relationship stands as a model of South-South cooperation, challenging Western hegemony while advancing mutual economic and political interests.

Historical Foundations: From OPEC to Anti-Imperialist Unity

Formal relations between Iran and Venezuela were established in 1947, but it was not until the 1960s that their partnership gained strategic significance.

 As founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), both nations recognized the need to assert control over their hydrocarbon resources against Western corporate dominance.

The early diplomatic engagements were marked by mutual respect but limited collaboration. In 1970, both countries appointed ambassadors, moving away from concurrent representation in Washington.

The Shah of Iran visited Venezuela in 1975, followed by Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez’s reciprocal trip to Tehran in 1977.

However, relations faced turbulence in the 1990s, including a diplomatic incident in 1991 when Venezuela briefly declared the Iranian ambassador persona non grata. Dialogue resumed in 1995, but the relationship remained largely confined to OPEC negotiations.

The turning point came with the rise of Hugo Chávez in 1998 and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005. Both leaders shared a vision of anti-imperialist resistance and economic sovereignty, transforming bilateral ties into a strategic alliance.

Chávez’s famous declaration: “Iran is transferring technology to us, something almost no other country does”, encapsulated the new spirit of cooperation.

Strategic Cooperation: Energy, Technology, and Sanctions Resistance

Energy and Oil: Defying U.S. Sanctions

As two of the world’s largest oil reserves holders, Iran and Venezuela have leveraged their OPEC alliance to stabilize global oil prices and resist U.S. pressure.

Their collaboration goes beyond market strategies, encompassing direct technical and logistical support to circumvent sanctions.

In 2020, when U.S. sanctions crippled Venezuela’s fuel imports, Iran stepped in with a lifeline, 2.35 million barrels of gasoline, paid for with 9 tons of gold ($500 million). This bold move demonstrated their willingness to defy U.S. restrictions through alternative trade mechanisms.

The following year, Iran supplied condensates and refinery parts, enabling Venezuela to revive its crippled oil industry.

By 2023, the partnership reached new heights with a 100-day plan to rehabilitate Venezuela’s Paraguaná Refining Complex, the largest in Latin America.

Iranian technicians from NIORDC worked alongside PDVSA to repair key units, reducing Venezuela’s dependence on U.S. refinery technology.

These efforts were part of a broader 20-year cooperation agreement signed in 2022, covering energy, defense, and technology.

Industrial and Technological Collaboration

Beyond oil, both nations have pursued joint industrial projects to reduce dependency on Western imports.

One of the most notable ventures is the Venirán Tractor Factory, a symbol of South-South industrial cooperation.

Established with Iranian technology, the plant has expanded Venezuela’s capacity to produce agricultural machinery, crucial for food sovereignty.

Automotive production has also been a focus. In 2009, Venezuela began assembling Iranian-designed vehicles, including family cars and public transport trucks.

More recently, in 2025, the two countries launched a fiber optic factory in La Guaira state, strengthening Venezuela’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Healthcare collaboration has been another pillar of the alliance. Iran’s shipment of 1.9 million polio vaccines in 2025 bolstered Venezuela’s national immunization program, showcasing how medical solidarity can overcome U.S.-imposed barriers.

Additionally, the inauguration of Venezuela’s first hemodialysis center using Iranian technology provided affordable care for renal patients, further cementing ties in the social sector.

Financial Independence: Challenging the Dollar Hegemony

To counter U.S. financial warfare, both nations have established alternative mechanisms. The Iran-Venezuela Binational Bank, created in 2009, facilitated trade in non-dollar currencies, reducing reliance on the Western banking system.

More recently, they have turned to gold-backed transactions and cryptocurrencies like Venezuela’s Petro to bypass sanctions.

These innovations have allowed them to sustain trade despite U.S. pressure. For instance, Venezuela’s gold reserves have been used to pay for Iranian fuel and technology, while cryptocurrency transactions have enabled smoother cross-border payments.

Diplomatic Solidarity: A United Front Against U.S. Aggression

Both nations have consistently condemned U.S. sanctions and economic warfare, framing their alliance as part of a broader anti-imperialist struggle.

In 2022, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, reaffirming their shared commitment to resisting U.S. coercion.

During the visit, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro praised the “productive” talks, vowing to strengthen technological and industrial ties.

Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have echoed this sentiment, declaring that “true allies stand together in hardship.”

Their diplomatic coordination extends beyond bilateral relations. Both nations actively promote BRICS expansion as a counterweight to Western dominance.

In 2025, they joined Russia, Cuba, and other nations in backing the UN Convention on Cybercrime, advocating for a sovereign and equitable approach to global digital governance.

A Blueprint for Global South Resistance

The Iran-Venezuela alliance is more than a bilateral partnership, it is a geopolitical statement. By combining energy leverage, technological exchange, and diplomatic defiance, both nations have demonstrated that sanctions resistance is possible.

As Nicolás Maduro declared in 2025, “Together, we are weaving the new world order.” Their 75-year relationship stands as proof that anti-imperialist solidarity, strategic autonomy, and multipolar cooperation can overcome even the most aggressive economic warfare.

In an era of escalating U.S. pressure, their partnership offers a roadmap for other Global South nations seeking true sovereignty in an unequal world.

Whether through OPEC solidarity, industrial collaboration, or financial innovation, Iran and Venezuela continue to show that alternatives to Western dominance are not just possible—they are already in motion.

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