Thursday, 11 June _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.