TEHRAN, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday strongly condemned the U.S. military attack on Venezuela, calling it a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an "act of aggression" and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states.
Earlier on Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of Venezuela," according to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.
Iran reaffirmed Venezuela's right to defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination, and urged the international community to fulfill its legal and moral responsibility by immediately halting what it described as a U.S. "invasion" of the country.
The remarks come amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. On Friday, Tehran said it would "forcefully reject" any interference in its internal affairs after Trump warned that Washington would act if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."
Protests have erupted since Sunday in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the national currency, the rial. ■
