The Iranian official, Mahmoud Vaezi made the remarks in a meeting with Venezuelan president’s Special Envoy Jorge Elieser in Tehran on Monday, IRNA reported.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always respected the Venezuelan government and people and welcomes the development of relations and cooperation with this country,” Vaezi said.

Referring to the friendly relations between Tehran and Caracas in various fields, Vaezi stressed the need for greater efforts aimed at developing relations between the two countries.

Vaezi added that the United States is seeking to hatch plots against freedom-seeking countries through imposing sanctions and exerting pressure on countries.

Pointing to US pressure on both countries, the Iranian official underlined that the two countries should not allow the enemies’ sanctions to harm the development and welfare of the people through promoting solidarity and the expansion of relations.

The Venezuelan official for his part expressed appreciation for Iran’s support for the South American country and called for the comprehensive development of relations between the two countries.

He said that the people of Venezuela see the Iranian nation as a great and heroic nation, adding that, “The arrival of Iranian ships carrying gasoline to Venezuela was a day of celebration for the Venezuelan people.”

Recently, Iran sent five tankers loaded with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela to help jump start the oil refineries there amid a fuel crisis.

Iran also sent a cargo ship carrying foodstuffs to Venezuela, the sixth vessel Tehran has sent to the sanctions-hit Latin American country over the past weeks.

All of the vessels reached Venezuela under military escort in defiance of draconian American sanctions targeting both Iran and Venezuela. Iran’s fuel shipments drew the ire of the US.

On Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Venezuela’s Independence Day and called for the enhancement of strategic relations between Tehran and Caracas.

Rouhani expressed confidence that Venezuela will overcome the existing problems and its people will emerge victorious in the near future in light of the “resistance” shown by its government and great nation.