TEHRAN – Iran has categorically condemned the United States’ military aggression against Venezuela, dismissing it as a “flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity” of that country.

“The United States’ military attack on Venezuela amounts to blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and the basic rules of international law, particularly Clause 4 of Article 2 of the [UN] Charter, which prohibits resort to force,” read the statement.

The ministry also denounced the U.S. military strike as “clear example of act of aggression, which should be immediately and straightforwardly condemned by the UN and all governments which are concerned about the rule of law as well as international peace and security.”

The statement also underlined that the United States’ military aggression against an independent UN member state is tantamount to gross violation of regional and international peace and security whose consequences bear on the entire international system and further exposes to collapse the system run on the UN Charter.

Iran had previously condemned Washington’s threat to use force against Venezuela on multiple occasions. It also lashed out at the U.S. for deploying a naval fleet to the Caribbean, warning that the military buildup under the pretext of fighting drug smuggling was jeopardizing regional and international peace and stability. Washington killed dozens of people on their boats before attacking Venezuela directly.

On Saturday, the United States carried out “very serious and grave military aggression” against multiple parts of Venezuela, announced Caracas. Attacks were focused on the capital, Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on his Truth Social media platform that Washington had carried out a “large scale strike against Venezuela” and that President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured. 

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez also said that the government does not know the whereabouts of President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Before his disappearance, President Maduro signed a state of emergency and ordered all national defense plans to be implemented “at the appropriate time and under the appropriate circumstances.” according to the statement carried by CNN.

At least seven explosions rocked Caracas, where smoke was seen rising from the hangar of a military base, according to The Associated Press. Another military installation in Caracas lost power, and residents in multiple neighborhoods rushed into the streets of the capital city.

The blasts come after months of tension between Venezuela and the United States. Trump has accused President Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking, an allegation strongly dismissed by Caracas.

On Thursday, President Maduro said he was open to negotiating a deal with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking. The U.S. has carried out more than 20 airstrikes in the sea near Venezuela since September as part of what Washington called an anti-drug campaign.