TEHRAN, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif voiced his country's support for the legitimate government of Venezuela, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.
Iran supports Venezuela's government and nation amid the "U.S. plots," Zarif said in a telephone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza.
The two sides discussed ways to counter the U.S. moves against independent governments, particularly the Venezuelan government, according to the report.
Zarif and Arreaza further talked about the ways to strengthen national dialogue and political solutions to the conflicts between the Venezuelan government and the opposition groups.
According to the Foreign Ministry's website, Zarif will keep holding talks with the countries that share views with Tehran about the developments in Venezuela.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington had recognized the opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's "interim president," after Nicolas Maduro was inaugurated as leader of the Latin American country earlier this month.
Trump added that the United States would continue to use economic and diplomatic power to press for "the restoration of Venezuelan democracy."
On Thursday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi criticized the United States for "intervention" in Venezuela's internal political affairs.
Qasemi said that "Iran supports the Venezuelan government and nation in the face of foreign intervention and any illegitimate and illegal move such as trying to stage a coup" in the Latin American country.
"We hope any political difference in Venezuela is solved by the people and government of the country using legal and peaceful means," Qasemi added.
