Tehran, YJC. Oil-rich Venezuela’s president arrived in Tehran on Friday for a one-day visit to hold talks with senior Iranian authorities.
Nicolas Maduro was officially welcomed by his Iranian
counterpart Hassan Rouhani. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and
Minister of Petroleum Bijan Namdar Zangeneh also attended the receiving ceremony.
Upon arrival at Tehran International Airport, Mehrabad, Maduro
was welcomed by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American
Affairs Majid Takht-e Ravanchi as well as Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade
Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh .
On Saturday afternoon, he met the Iranian Supreme Leader
ayatollah Ali Khamenei to talk mutual interests as well as regional
developments.
Maduro met with Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian earlier on
Satrday and is expected to sit down with his Iranian opposite number on issues
of mutual interest, mainly the plunging oil prices.
The Venezuelan president is nonetheless expected to visit
more member countries of OPEC (Petroleum Exporting Countries), including Saudi
Arabia, to discuss the recent slump in oil markets.
Iran has called the slump as rather politically motivated. Many
experts see the huge plunge in oil prices as a new tool used by Saudi Arabia and
its ultra-regional allies.