TEHRAN (Iran News) Recent developments in Venezuela have once again demonstrated that the country’s case is not merely a political or human rights dispute. At a deeper level, it is closely intertwined with energy security, refinery configuration, and the geopolitics of heavy crude oil.

Beyond Production Volumes: The Question of Oil Quality

At first glance, one fundamental question arises: why should the United States, now the world’s largest oil producer, still care about Venezuelan crude? Over the past two decades—particularly after the shale revolution—U.S. oil output has surged to historic levels, transforming the country from a major importer into a dominant global producer. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s oil industry has suffered from years of declining production, infrastructure decay, and capital flight, significantly reducing its share of the global market.

However, the core issue is not volume; it is quality. The bulk of U.S. oil production comes from shale fields, which yield light, low-density, and relatively sweet crude oils. These grades are highly valuable on the export market. By contrast, a significant portion of U.S. refineries—especially along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana—were built and upgraded over decades to process heavy and extra-heavy crudes. These refineries are legacies of an era when heavy oil from Venezuela, Mexico, and, to some extent, Canada formed the backbone of U.S. refining feedstock.

Fully converting these facilities to run primarily on light shale oil would require multi-billion-dollar investments and prolonged shutdowns—an option that is neither simple nor economically attractive. As a result, despite record-breaking domestic production, the United States remains dependent on crude imports.

Today, those imports are not meant to compensate for a lack of supply, but rather to secure the right type of crude for its refinery system.

U.S. crude production has stabilized in the range of 12–13 million barrels per day, with roughly 8–9 million barrels coming from shale. Shale oil typically has an API gravity of 40–50 degrees and sulfur content below 0.5 percent, placing it firmly in the category of very light, sweet crude. Venezuelan crude, particularly from the Orinoco Belt, often has an API gravity below 10–15 degrees and sulfur content exceeding 3 percent, classifying it as extra-heavy and sour.

This qualitative gap has direct implications for refinery economics. Gulf Coast refineries—whose combined capacity exceeds 9 million barrels per day—have been equipped with advanced delayed coking units, high-pressure hydrocrackers, and sulfur recovery systems. Many of these refineries have a Nelson Complexity Index above 10, reflecting their dependence on heavy, discounted feedstocks. Processing large volumes of light shale oil in such facilities reduces coking efficiency and compresses refining margins.

This structural mismatch explains why the United States still imports around 3–4 million barrels of crude per day, mostly medium and heavy grades. Before sanctions, Venezuela exported 700,000 to 800,000 barrels per day of heavy crude to the U.S., ranking among the top suppliers to Gulf Coast refineries.

Following the removal of Venezuelan barrels, Canada largely filled the gap, pushing its share of U.S. crude imports above 60 percent. Yet excessive reliance on a single dominant supplier carries its own geopolitical, environmental, and logistical risks.

In this context, Venezuelan heavy crude matters not merely as a volume of supply, but as a balancing factor in the heavy oil market—one that cannot be replaced simply by increasing light oil production.

The Heavy Oil Market: Limited Supply, Few Players

Unlike light crude, the heavy oil market is structurally tight, with only a handful of major suppliers. Canada and Venezuela represent the two primary pillars of global heavy crude, while Russia also holds substantial reserves. In recent years, Canada has significantly expanded its role as the main supplier to U.S. refineries.

Venezuela’s share, by contrast, has been virtually eliminated due to sanctions, mismanagement, and collapsing output. Yet this does not render the country irrelevant. Venezuela still holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, the majority of which consist of extra-heavy crude and bitumen. This reality makes Venezuela a geopolitical asset that cannot be written off, even if its current production remains marginal. For the United States—already facing heightened tensions with Russia and other geopolitical constraints—losing access to a potential source of heavy crude in the Western Hemisphere is not merely an economic issue. It is a strategic one.

A Shift in U.S. Policy: From Pressure to Direct Action

Recent developments in Venezuela, including the detention of the country’s president by the United States, signal a clear shift in Washington’s approach. This move suggests that the U.S. is no longer relying solely on economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure when dealing with certain sanctioned states.

When geopolitical importance overlaps with structural energy needs and diplomatic avenues are exhausted, more direct and costly measures remain on the table. The message is unambiguous: sanctions are not the ceiling of U.S. pressure. In this sense, Venezuela is not an anomaly, but rather a warning case that illustrates an evolving U.S. strategy at the intersection of energy and power politics.

Implications for the Global Oil Market

The political instability generated by these developments has cast serious doubt on any near-term return of Venezuelan oil to global markets. Even under a new political arrangement, rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector would require time, capital, and sustained stability—none of which are readily available.

As a result, the global heavy oil market is likely to remain structurally constrained. This will continue to pressure refineries dependent on heavy crude and intensify competition over a limited pool of suitable feedstocks.

Iran’s Position in the Emerging Equation

Iran is often overlooked in Western-centric analyses, despite the fact that parts of its crude slate—particularly its heavy and sour grades—share key refining characteristics with Venezuelan oil. Complex refineries designed for heavy crude can process Iranian oil with minimal technical adjustments.

The Venezuelan case delivers two contrasting messages for Iran. On the one hand, Venezuela’s marginalization could enhance the geopolitical value of Iranian heavy crude, creating new opportunities should sanctions be eased. On the other hand, it underscores how deeply energy can become a vulnerability when entangled with security and geopolitics.

Moreover, Venezuela’s experience highlights the fragility of cooperation among sanctioned states in the absence of political and economic stability. Energy cooperation between Tehran and Caracas, pursued in recent years, now faces heightened risks—reinforcing the need for Iran to reassess its long-term energy strategy.

Conclusion

Venezuela’s case serves as a reminder that in energy geopolitics, the number of barrels produced is only part of the equation. Crude quality, refinery configuration, technical constraints, and security considerations play equally decisive roles. The United States produces more oil than ever before, yet it still needs the type of oil it produces least.

Within this framework, Venezuela, Canada, Russia—and potentially Iran—matter not simply as producers, but as holders of strategic heavy crude resources. Understanding this reality is key to deciphering the hidden layer of recent developments in the political economy of energy, where oil is no longer just a commodity, but an instrument of power.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) According to Russian media, the rally was organized by labor unions and left-wing parties.

Protesters also raised a large Venezuelan flag and held placards and handwritten signs indicating the United States’ interest in Venezuela’s oil and the plundering of the country’s resources.

Lunna Normande, Spokesperson for the Popular Unity for Socialism party in Rio de Janeiro, who was present at the protest, said this attack is not only against Venezuela but against the entire Latin America.

The US Administration under President Donald Trump believes it owns the world and can attack any country, she added.

On January 3, 2026, the United States launched an attack on Venezuela, an action that has been met with a wave of international reactions.

The Venezuelan government described this move as a military aggression and, while declaring a state of emergency, called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Simultaneously, several countries, including some allies of the United States, have reacted cautiously, emphasizing the need to adhere to the principles of international law and the UN Charter.

Iran, Russia, and several other countries have also condemned Washington’s actions and warned of their consequences for regional stability and the international order.

The US Administration under President Donald Trump believes it owns the world and can attack any country, she added.

On January 3, 2026, the United States launched an attack on Venezuela, an action that has been met with a wave of international reactions.

The Venezuelan government described this move as a military aggression and, while declaring a state of emergency, called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Simultaneously, several countries, including some allies of the United States, have reacted cautiously, emphasizing the need to adhere to the principles of international law and the UN Charter.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) According to the report, the United States’ intervention, including the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is driven primarily by access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the world’s second-largest after Saudi Arabia, and efforts to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

Channel 13 noted that Washington’s claims of drug-related deaths in the US caused by Venezuela are greatly exaggerated, with independent analyses suggesting the actual figures are far lower than the 300,000 annual deaths cited by Trump.

Trump reportedly stated that US oil companies will soon operate in Venezuela and the country will remain under American administration until a transfer of power.

The move has provoked strong domestic and international criticism. Former US Vice President Kamala Harris called the action illegal and potentially costly for Americans, warning it would not enhance national security.

In France, leftist politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned the operation as a violent kidnapping and plundering of Venezuelan oil, while officials stressed that political solutions must be determined by independent nations themselves.

Conversely, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Trump’s actions as historic leadership.

The Venezuelan government described the US strike as a military aggression, declared a state of emergency, and requested an urgent UN Security Council session.

Several countries, including Iran and Russia, condemned the operation, warning of destabilizing regional and international consequences.

On Saturday, explosions and smoke columns were reported in Caracas and other states, confirming US military attack on Venezuela.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) According to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, the Foreign Ministry said information published by Western media outlets, including the Associated Press, about an alleged evacuation of Russian diplomats and their families from Venezuela is untrue. The ministry rejected claims that diplomatic staff and their families were being withdrawn from the country.

A senior Russian Foreign Ministry official also urged journalists and the public to remain vigilant against what he described as fake news, warning against falling for provocations and disinformation spread by Western countries regarding Russia.

The denial came after the Associated Press reported, citing a European intelligence source, that Russia had started evacuating its diplomats and their families from Venezuela.

In related remarks, the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated its concerns about US actions toward Venezuela, emphasizing that Moscow hopes the US administration will avoid steps that could lead to unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere. The ministry described Venezuela as a friendly country and stressed Moscow’s support for dialogue between Washington and Caracas.

Russia also reaffirmed its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and its support for President Nicolás Maduro’s policies aimed at protecting national sovereignty and interests, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement carried by Reuters.

In recent months, the US has intensified military deployments near Venezuela and taken actions including strikes on vessels it alleges are linked to drug trafficking, while Caracas has boosted its defenses. Tensions are mounting, raising concerns over a potential escalation in the region.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) The diplomats analyzed recent developments and highlighted Iran’s role in shifting power equations.

On the Tuesday meeting, Venezuelan Ambassador to Tehran José Rafael Silva Aponte referred to the US’ hegemonic policies in various regions of the world.

By making false claims about drug trafficking from Venezuela, the United States is attempting to create a pretext for intervention and aggression, he said, adding that this is while life in Venezuela continues normally and the people support their legitimate president.

The US should be aware of the fact that it will achieve nothing, he warned.

Expressing gratitude for Iran’s support, he said Iran’s resistance against the recent aggression seriously disrupted the equations of global arrogance.

Meanwhile, the ambassadors of Cuba and Nicaragua also described the actions of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran as a clear violation of international law.

The 12-day war demonstrated that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses an active and effective deterrent capability, they stressed.

On the Tuesday meeting, Venezuelan Ambassador to Tehran José Rafael Silva Aponte referred to the US’ hegemonic policies in various regions of the world.

By making false claims about drug trafficking from Venezuela, the United States is attempting to create a pretext for intervention and aggression, he said, adding that this is while life in Venezuela continues normally and the people support their legitimate president.

The US should be aware of the fact that it will achieve nothing, he warned.

Expressing gratitude for Iran’s support, he said Iran’s resistance against the recent aggression seriously disrupted the equations of global arrogance.

Meanwhile, the ambassadors of Cuba and Nicaragua also described the actions of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran as a clear violation of international law.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Trump issued the threat in a speech at the White House on Saturday, claimin the operations might involve ground attacks, though he provided no details about the plan or its execution.

Anti-Venezuela rhetoric is common since Trump deployed warships and fighter jets in the Caribbean and ordered his military to launch attacks on Venezuelan boats under the pretext of targeting drug cartels, a move Caracas described as hegemonic in nature.

He has repeatedly defended the controversial strikes and held Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro responsible for the wave of immigration and drug trafficking. “We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon,” said Trump to the press following a cabinet meeting earlier this week.

While the US military continues naval raids, Trump’s warning of ground invasion has deepened the concerns about the refugee and migrant crises. According to research by the Niskanen Center, the attacks could result in the deportation of three to four million Venezuelan immigrants from US soil.

On Wednesday, the US President also claimed that the operation had saved thousands of American lives, failing to provide any evidence and once again ignoring lawmakers’ demand for the full and unedited release of the first attack that took place on September 2.

Anti-Venezuela rhetoric is common since Trump deployed warships and fighter jets in the Caribbean and ordered his military to launch attacks on Venezuelan boats under the pretext of targeting drug cartels, a move Caracas described as hegemonic in nature.

He has repeatedly defended the controversial strikes and held Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro responsible for the wave of immigration and drug trafficking. “We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon,” said Trump to the press following a cabinet meeting earlier this week.

While the US military continues naval raids, Trump’s warning of ground invasion has deepened the concerns about the refugee and migrant crises. According to research by the Niskanen Center, the attacks could result in the deportation of three to four million Venezuelan immigrants from US soil.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Ali E’shaqi, head of the institute, pointed to the global shortage of inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) and said international sanctions have hindered Venezuela’s access to the vaccine.

He said that the shipment followed an official request from the Venezuelan government and a visit by Venezuela’s deputy minister of science to the Razi Institute, where an agreement was reached to supply oral polio vaccines to the Latin American country.

Leveraging its technical expertise and production capacity, the Razi Institute manufactured and prepared the vaccine shipment for delivery to Venezuela, he said. “Iran ships”

E’shaqi noted that the vaccine consignment was directly shipped from Tehran to Caracas.

The shipment was initially delivered last week to the quarantine warehouse at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, he said, adding that it was then dispatched to Venezuela after completing necessary final procedures.

He said that the shipment followed an official request from the Venezuelan government and a visit by Venezuela’s deputy minister of science to the Razi Institute, where an agreement was reached to supply oral polio vaccines to the Latin American country.

Leveraging its technical expertise and production capacity, the Razi Institute manufactured and prepared the vaccine shipment for delivery to Venezuela, he said. “Iran ships”

E’shaqi noted that the vaccine consignment was directly shipped from Tehran to Caracas.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Mehrpourian highlighted that Iranian private companies have struggled to make significant economic inroads in Venezuela. A key factor is the political landscape, where Venezuela’s private sector is often associated with the opposition. However, the Venezuelan government is working to alter this perception and encourage more private-sector engagement.

Despite the challenges, Iranian knowledge-based companies have significant potential in Venezuela. Opportunities exist in IT infrastructure, telecommunications, oil and petrochemicals, and refinery modernization. Additionally, Venezuelans have shown a strong interest in Iranian medical services, particularly in laboratory diagnostics.

Mehrpourian stated that agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed, ensuring legal frameworks for collaboration. However, the real test lies in execution. Some Iranian private firms have begun independent marketing efforts in Venezuela, targeting exports in fiber optics, mining, and petrochemicals. Yet, financial returns remain modest due to Venezuela’s weak economy and low purchasing power.

Trade between Iran and Venezuela faces economic hurdles. Iran does not import Venezuelan goods, as the overall standard of living in Iran is higher. Venezuela mainly relies on raw material exports, such as coffee, cocoa, and timber, with Russia and the UAE being key buyers. While Venezuela once had substantial gold reserves, these have diminished. The remaining reserves are of lower purity, reducing their value. Due to liquidity issues, the Venezuelan government often pays foreign contractors in gold rather than cash.

Venezuela, with a population of approximately 29 million, has seen an exodus of its wealthy citizens, further weakening its economy. While the country is rich in untapped mineral resources, fertile agricultural land, and water resources, the local population lacks the infrastructure and inclination for large-scale production. Consequently, Iranian investors see potential in the country, but logistical challenges, including high trade costs due to geographical distance, hinder profitability. Proximity to the U.S. and Spain allows American and European products to dominate the Venezuelan market, reducing the competitiveness of Iranian goods.

Iranian investors have explored offshore farming in Venezuela and have secured land for agricultural production. However, implementation remains in the early stages due to inadequate water supply and infrastructure development. No significant agricultural output has yet been realized.

One of the most visible aspects of Iran-Venezuela trade relations is the presence of Iranian automobiles. Since the administration of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran Khodro and SAIPA have operated assembly plants in Venezuela. These companies continue to function on a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) basis, assembling Iranian car parts locally.

While economic engagement between the two nations is growing, structural and logistical challenges persist, limiting the full potential of trade expansion. Iranian businesses remain cautiously optimistic about future prospects, contingent on overcoming economic and infrastructural barriers.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Congratulations to President Nicolas Maduro on his inauguration as President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Baghaei wrote in a message in Spanish language on his X social media network on Saturday night.

He added: We wish him success in serving the country and the great people of Venezuela and are eager to cooperate with the elected government for the good of the two nations of Iran and Venezuela.

Iran expresses solidarity with the people and government of Venezuela in the face of the evil interventions and unilateral and illegal US sanctions imposed against this country, Baghaei further said in his post along with the Iranian and Venezuelan flags.

Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term as president on Friday, nearly six months after winning the election.

Maduro, president since 2013, was declared the winner of July’s election by both electoral authority and the country apex court after opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and some of his backers including the United States claimed the vote was rigged that then sparked the opposition-led violent protests in several Venezuelan cities.

During the inauguration ceremony, Maduro promised that his new presidential term would be a “period of peace.”

Maduro previously served his country as Foreign Minister and Vice-President before winning the presidential election for the first  time in 2013 following the demise of President Hugo Chavez.

The US-led West and some of their South American allies have a history of interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs and raising questions about its democratic processes.

Maduro’s inauguration was illegitimate, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated in a statement, adding that his country will not recognize him as president, a usual tone Washington uses for a country it deems the enemy.

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TEHRAN (Iran News)  In his meeting with the Minister of Communications of Venezuela, Freddy Nanez, while expressing his satisfaction with holding this meeting and appreciating the warm hospitality of the other side, the Iranian Communications Minister Sattar  Pour-Hashemi pointed out the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and Lebanon and said, “Our duty is to present a true picture of the crimes of this regime to the people of the world.” “communication”

He said that on behalf of himself and the Islamic Republic, “I thank the Venezuelan government and people for their stance in condemning the crimes of the Zionist regime”, and pointed out Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s emphasis on cultural invasion and the need for independent countries to cooperate.

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