The United States has intensified its military pressure in the Caribbean, claiming to expand its efforts to suppress criminal networks linked to the Maduro regime in Venezuela. In response, Iran, which supports Maduro, is attempting to maintain its foothold in Latin America.

Earlier this week, Iran publicly connected U.S. actions to the fate of the Maduro regime, warning of "dangerous consequences" from U.S. military activities in the region and asserting that such operations threaten "international peace and security."

A senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel remarked that Iran's public defense of Venezuela reflects deep strategic anxiety in Tehran. He emphasized that Iran is very concerned about potentially losing its primary stronghold in Latin America, viewing the loss of Maduro as a significant strategic setback.

Venezuela has long served as Iran's most critical base in the region, and losing it would not only mean a lack of control over Venezuela itself but also diminish Tehran's ability to bolster its operations throughout Latin America. This includes activities like those seen in Mexico (attempts to assassinate the Israeli ambassador).

Furthermore, following recent elections in Bolivia, Iran lost another long-standing ally in the region. Remaining partners such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua are crucial, but strategically and historically, Venezuela is the most significant. It provides the Quds Force (a unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard) ample space for operations.