Iran showed power by sending oil tankers to Venezuela despite US threats

The chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the country displayed its power through sending fuel tankers to Venezuela despite threats by the administration of US President Donald Trump to take action against them.

“We showcased our might, and our biggest display of power was the imposition of our will [on the enemies] and the sailing of [oil tankers] through high seas from the Persian Gulf towards Venezuela,” Major General Hossein Salami said on Wednesday.

He added that the Iranian nation was surmounting problems as it stood at the zenith of power and dignity, noting that the key to overcoming woes was the willpower and faith of the nation.   

Five Iranian oil tankers entered Venezuela's waters in May and June, carrying more than a million barrels of fuel to help revive oil refineries in the South American country, which is suffering from a severe fuel shortage caused by US sanctions.

Iran’s fuel shipments have infuriated the US, which has imposed draconian sanctions prohibiting trade with both Iran and Venezuela with the aim of crippling their oil sectors.

The US reinstated economic sanctions on Iran after Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in May 2018.

Salami said in his Wednesday remarks that the Islamic Republic managed to bypass the US sanctions, while Washington was drowning under economic pressure.

“The US, unable to contain the coronavirus, is experiencing its worst economic conditions,” he said.

He added that the Islamic Revolution was breaking the back of its enemies, noting, “Today, we are witnessing the rapid decline of our big enemies, particularly the US.”

Salami also pointed to recent anti-racism protests across the US and said the American nation used to be unaware of the US crimes, but it was now cognizant of the criminal nature of the government to the extent that they even set the national flag ablaze.

“All the symbols with which the US used to introduce itself and portrayed an untrue picture of itself are falling,” he added.

The IRGC head said hatred is further spreading in the US, adding that lack of prudence could lead to the collapse of the United States.

US cities have been rocked by anti-racism protests since the May 22 killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African American, at the hands of a white US police officer while he pleaded for his life.

Protesters across the US have been demanding an end to police brutality and what they call “systemic racism.”

Floyd's death has also sparked an outpouring of grief and protest worldwide.

In a televised address to the Iranian nation on June 3, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Kkamenei addressed the far-and-wide protests in the US in the aftermath of the gruesome killing of Floyd and said what the US has come face to face with today in the form of the protests “is a result of the realities that had always been kept concealed,” and have now risen to the surface causing disgrace for the American administration.

The brutality that was exercised on Floyd is what the United States has been sowing all around the world, the Leader stated, saying, “This is the US government’s nature and character that is being exposed today.”

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the “I Can’t Breathe” slogan that the American protesters were chanting all across the United States during the protests and called it ”the heartfelt words of all nations against which the US has committed many atrocities.”