2020-05-23: News Headlines

Federico Fuentes (2020-05-23). Mercenaries, pandemic and riots in Venezuela: A grassroots perspective. mronline.org Venezuela is confronting COVID-19 amid foreign sanctions and mercenary incursions. Complicating matters further is the explosive combination of deep recession and a nationwide lockdown, which has triggered incidents of looting and riots.

Marwa Osman (2020-05-22). Palestine — Quds Day 2020: Marwa Osman. thealtworld.com TeleSur English- Political Commentator Dr. Marwa Osman joins Camila on From the Lebanon to discuss the history and significance of Quds Day and analyzes today's geopolitical context. Dr. Osman discusses the U.S. and Israeli regime's intensifying threats against the Palestinian people within the context of the "deal of the century" saying the 'deal' constitutes the imprisonment of Palestinians. Blockaded Palestine has much in common with other blockaded nations included Iran and Venezuela.

Eds. (2020-05-22). Venezuelan Army to escort Iranian tankers bringing gasoline to Venezuelans blockaded by U.S. sanctions. mronline.org This was announced by the Minister for Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, this Wednesday. "We have established contact with the Minister of Defense of Iran. All these ships, when they enter our exclusive economic zone (370Km), will be escorted by ships and planes of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), to welcome them and say to …

Lucas Koerner (2020-05-22). Trump Claims to Have Venezuela 'Surrounded' as Iranian Tankers Approach. globalresearch.ca US President Donald Trump issued new threats against Venezuela on Wednesday. | "We've got it [Venezuela] surrounded, it's surrounded at a level that nobody even knows but they know. We are watching to see what happens," he …

Lucas Leiroz de Almeida (2020-05-22). US Militarizes the Caribbean Sea to Surround Venezuela. globalresearch.ca Recently, the number of American ships and planes in the Caribbean Sea has increased exponentially. The most likely hypothesis so far is that there will be an attempt to block Venezuela, as the military flow in the region began to …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-05-22). Venezuela sends military to escort Iranian fuel tankers over US threats. peoplesdispatch.org Officials in the Trump administration have told the press that the US will consider mobilizing its forces in the Caribbean against Iranian shipment of petrol en route to Venezuela…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-05-21). US Blocks UNSC Draft Resolution Denouncing Paramilitary Incursion into Venezuela. venezuelanalysis.com Russia, China and other countries criticized violations of Venezuelan sovereignty.

World Socialist Web Site (2020-05-22). Trump issues new threats as Iranian tankers approach Venezuela. iranian.com In a telephone conference with right-wing Hispanic supporters in the United States Wednesday, President Donald Trump issued new threats against Venezuela, bragging about the US military siege that has been mounted against the embattled South American country. Referring to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump declared,"We have surrounded him at a level that no one knows, …

Zero Hedge (2020-05-21). Regime Change Back In Focus: Pompeo Targets Iran, Cuba & Venezuela In Epic Tweet Thread. iranian.com Given the very noticeable rise in threatening rhetoric focused on Iran over the past week, it seems thoughts of regime change in Tehran are once again top of the agenda. Or perhaps simultaneously the administration needs a significant distraction of sorts amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the persistent national reopening question and agenda. On Wednesday, Secretary …

Sputnik News (2020-05-21). Venezuelan Military to Escort Iranian Tankers Delivering Fuel — Defense Minister. iranian.com Venezuela's military will escort Iranian tankers delivering fuel to the country when they enter Venezuela's exclusive economic zone, the country's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino revealed Wednesday. In a state television interview, Padrino said the escort would "welcome them in and thank the Iranian people for their solidarity and cooperation," Reuters reported. Padrino also said that …

en.mehrnews (2020-05-23). Iranian fuel tankers approach Caribbean: report. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 23 (MNA) — A flotilla of five tankers carrying Iranian fuel for Venezuela is approaching the Caribbean, with the first vessel expected to reach the South American country's waters on Sunday.

Eds. (2020-05-22). The role of the state in Venezuela. mronline.org Venezuelan former Vice President Elias Jaua calls for the government to rebuild the state and retake the reins of the economy.

Fight Back (2020-05-22). UNAC denounces any attempts by the US to stop shipments of Iranian fuel to Venezuela. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). | Last week, an Iran-flagged tanker passed the Suez Canal, reportedly bound for Venezuela with a shipment of refined fuel. Despite having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, Venezuela's refining capacity has been damaged by the U.S. embargo, greatly hindering its economy US officials have claimed that Venezuela has begun to purchase fuel from Iran directly with gold, thereby bypassing U.S. controlled imperialist trade mechanisms. | Four additional Iran-flagged tankers loaded with refined fue…