SAEDNEWS: Iran strongly condemned the US claim of shutting Venezuela’s airspace, calling it a blatant breach of international law and a threat to civil aviation safety.
In a statement on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the United States’ recent declaration regarding Venezuela’s airspace, calling it part of a longstanding pattern of hostile actions against the South American nation’s sovereignty.
Baqaei described the move as arbitrary, reckless, and lacking any legal legitimacy. He warned that the White House’s self-declared directives posed an unprecedented threat to international flight safety, risking destabilization of global aviation norms and endangering broader peace and security.
The spokesman emphasized that, under international civil aviation law, no country has the authority to unilaterally close another state’s airspace. His statement reflected growing concerns in diplomatic and aviation circles about the potential consequences of the US warning.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump issued an informal alert on Truth Social, instructing airlines and pilots to consider Venezuelan airspace “entirely closed.” Venezuela rejected the advisory as politically motivated and aimed at isolating the country rather than ensuring safety.
In response, the Venezuelan government revoked the licenses of six international airlines that had suspended operations, accusing them of succumbing to US pressure and supporting “state terrorism.” The nation’s civil aviation authority also condemned foreign carriers for aligning with US-backed destabilization efforts, noting that they followed “unilateral terror directives” instead of international law.
Meanwhile, the US Navy has stepped up operations in Latin American waters. Washington recently deployed the USS Harry S. Truman strike group to the Atlantic, part of broader militarization linked to anti-narcotics claims. Since September, the US has carried out lethal maritime strikes under the guise of counter-narcotics missions, killing over 80 people in Central and South American waters.
Baqaei stressed that aviation safety must not be subordinated to geopolitical agendas or used as leverage. He added that US actions only reinforced Venezuela’s moral authority in defending legal order, peace, and regional stability.
