US reiterates concern over two Iranian warships reportedly en route to Venezuela

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Thursday he concerned about the presence in the Atlantic Ocean of two Iranian ships are said to be heading for Venezuela with weapons.

Specifically, Austin claimed to be “Absolutely concerned” in response to US senator at congressional hearing, although he was very cautious about possible plans to prevent this transfer.

Several American media have published satellite photos in recent days showing one of the two Iranian ships, the Makran, loaded with half a dozen speedboats similar to those used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Gulf, but so far the Pentagon had declined to comment on the matter.

According to anonymous sources cited by the site Politics, the Makran and the frigate Sahand circled Africa and passed the Cape of Good Hope before entering the Atlantic, the first time Iranian warships have made this transit.

“Believes that These ships are carrying weapons to comply with a deal Iran and Venezuela struck a year agoSaid the influential Democratic senator Richard blumenthal during a hearing of the Secretary of Defense before the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

“The precedent of Allowing Iranian ships to supply arms to the region causes me great concern ”he added, before asking Austin if he shared his concern.

“I am very concerned about the proliferation of weapons, of all types of weapons, in our neighborhood”, Austin responded. “So I share your concern ”.

While Blumenthal raised the possibility that Venezuela ordered long-range missiles from Tehran, Pentagon chief refrained from giving any indication of the nature of the armament that the Iranian ships would carry, and added that he preferred to give details in camera.

However, he clarified that he had not discussed the movements of the ship with any leader in the region. “I have not had any discussions with any other nation in our hemisphere on this matter.”, He said.

Nail a possible Iranian arms delivery to Venezuela would be a “provocation and would be understood as a threat to our partners” in Latin America and the Caribbeanwarned a senior US official quoted Wednesday by Politics.

“We reserve the right to take appropriate action, in coordination with our partners, to discourage the transit or delivery of said weapons, ”added the official, who requested anonymity.

“The Iranian arms sale took place a year ago under the previous administration [estadounidense] and like many Iran-related situations under the previous administration – including the triggering of Iran’s nuclear program following the reckless withdrawal of the Trump administration from [acuerdo nuclear iraní]- we work for work it through diplomacy (…) But to be clear, Iran sold weapons to Venezuela over a year ago, which we believe was to test the Trump administration’s position of maximum pressure ”, this source added.

As US security agencies continue to monitor the two Iranian warships heading towards Central America, the United States warned the dictatorships of Venezuela Yes Cuba -allies of Tehran– What repel the Persian ships supposed to carry weapons to these countries.

During the last years, Tehran has established itself as one of the main supporters of the Chavist dictatorship and has already become one of its biggest trading partners in the fuel, health and food sectors.

The alliance between Venezuela and Iran was born with Hugo Chávez. The close relationship that the late president established with the Persian regime began at the summit of heads of state of member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held in Caracas in 2000.

With information from AFP

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