In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested by highly trained American forces of the CIA. He is now being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., being indicted for charges of drug trafficking and the possession of illegal weapons.
This stunning turn of events marks a significant escalation in U.S.-Venezuelan relations, sending shockwaves throughout the international community. Observers are already speculating about the potential political and diplomatic repercussions, both within Venezuela and across Latin America.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Maduro, president since 2013, has brought thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States, benefiting himself, his wife and top officials.
Meanwhile, inside Venezuela, the Supreme Court has given the mandate to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of president. U.S. President Donald Trump has said that America will “run the country” until a “judicious transition” occurs. He also stated that the United States will take control of Venezuela’s massive oil reserves.
Of course, for some inane reason in the minds of many Venezuelans, “the Zionists” orchestrated this entire operation. Rodríguez described the entire operation as having a “Zionist tint.”
That is precisely why Israel, a tiny state surrounded by several enemies, should be judicious about what is happening in the Islamic Republic.
This perception has fueled heightened tensions and widespread suspicion among the population, complicating efforts to restore stability. International actors are closely monitoring the situation, wary of possible spillover effects into neighboring countries.
There are thousands of people out on the streets throughout Iran’s cities and provinces. Through Shiraz, Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Jafarabad, Mashhad, Hamedan and Varamin, images of courageous young people taking to the streets are heard shouting, “Shame on you! Shame on you!”; “Death, death to the dictator!” and “This is the year of sacrifice. The oppressors will be overthrown.”
Trump has warned that if the Iranian regime “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.” Continuing with “we are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
At least two dozen protesters have already been murdered, as far as we know.
Like the 1979 Islamic Revolution that replaced the Shah with the Islamic Republic, this started in the marketplace. Iran’s currency, the rial, is in freefall. One Iranian rial is worth 0.000024 of a United States dollar. Savings that Iranians have accumulated over the years are being wiped out. Simply buying ordinary purchases, such as food or fuel, can eliminate a person’s income. For example, one liter of whole milk costs 574,458 rials today.
The people are brimming with frustration. What began in the streets and the marketplace has extended to most of the population. They are crying out now for basic freedoms. There have not been demonstrations like this since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022.
And the Islamic Republic must listen to the cries in the streets and step aside. By now, they want a complete revolution.
Yet Israel should remain cautious. As in Caracas, the suspicion of “Zionist conspiracies” is, unfortunately, a great part of the culture of Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was correct to say that Israel should be cautious. Iranian officials have arrested hundreds of citizens, and many Jews, in trumped up charges of being Mossad agents.
On Dec. 30, in a meeting with Netanyahu, Trump stated: “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we are going to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully it’s not happening.”
However, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, they have been unable to have access to the nuclear-weapons facilities to inspect ever since the 12-day war with Iran in June.
Last Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that “Answer of the Islamic Republic of Iran to any cruel aggression will be harsh and discouraging.”
Through the action in Caracas, the Islamic Republic has seen that Trump is serious. He means what he says when he hints, “Et tu, Ali Khamenei?”
