Juan Guido, the "interim president" of Venezuela, told "Israel Today" about the military personnel who smuggled the material to Tehran • "Israel - an important supporter of the war against the dictatorship"
"The people do not support his generation."
Juan Guido, last week
Photo:
IPI
"It is publicly known that a number of military personnel were arrested after smuggling uranium from Venezuela, and we believe Iran is one of the main targets," said Juan Guido, Venezuela's "interim president," in an exclusive interview with Israel Today.
Guido spoke about the fear of being arrested by the regime of official President Nicholas Maduro, warned of Iranian intrusion into the country and also sent a message to Jerusalem.
It is very likely that the conversation with the 37-year-old Guido took place under the surveillance of the local intelligence services, a routine in the life of the man who led the struggle to replace Maduro and the United Socialist Party he heads, another failed model of populist socialism. 1999.
About two years ago, after becoming the country's head of parliament, Guido soared into the world consciousness as Venezuela's new hope.
The people believed that he had the key to changing the regime, as the current cruel government stopped, tortured and even killed opponents.
Venezuelan protests against Maduro // Archive photo: News agencies
The masses responded to him and took to the streets for him with real expectation and with real hope that the situation would change at any moment.
Even the international community has recognized him as the country's interim president, including the European Union, the United States and Israel.
Today the situation is completely different.
Enthusiasm faded over time, international support passed (the union ceased to recognize him as the "interim president") and only one thing remained stable: Maduro and Chavism.
"The Maduro regime has become a criminal corporation, importing oil from Iran. A preliminary investigation is currently underway regarding the possession of uranium in Venezuela and the countries to which the substance may reach," Guido revealed from his residence in the capital Caracas.
"There is a large reservoir of uranium in Venezuela that is being smuggled out of the country in some way, by illegal means."
The crisis in Venezuela continues // Photo Archive: Reuters
The South American country has been in close relations with Iran for years, amid rumors of cooperation and cross-border with neighboring countries in the nuclear field.
On the start of Iran's invasion of the country, Guido said: "Maduro's dictatorship allowed Iran to enter. It started when Chavez (former Venezuelan president, who ruled the country for 14 years; DP) began introducing companies that had been sanctioned by the US. And other countries. "
In January 2019, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognized Guido as the official leader of the state, and this is the official position of the State of Israel to this day.
Since 2009, there has been no bilateral relations between the two countries, this is because Chavez declared a diplomatic severance with Israel following IDF operations in the Gaza Strip during Operation Eitan.
Guido is currently grateful, and has a message for Jerusalem: "The Israeli government is an important diplomatic supporter of the war against the dictatorship," he explained.
The lives of public figures and opposition activists in the country are in constant danger and at the mercy of the "dictator", as Guido calls Maduro, following in the footsteps of Hugo Chavez, who was a commander in the national army who came to power in the late 1990s.
Since then, his teachings, inspired by the Cuban Castro brothers, have ruled the country even after his death from cancer in 2013.
The UN has accused Maduro's government of crimes against humanity, and Guido is making great efforts to win back international support.
Blinken: "We will strengthen the nuclear agreement with Iran" // Photo: Reuters
He recently spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken about finding an outline of "return to democracy and free elections," but it is still unclear what line the Biden administration will take in the face of the humanitarian problem in Venezuela.
When Guido is asked about the danger of arrest hovering over him, he is aware of the sensitivity of the matter, and continues to be confident in his path and stand by his principles.
"The dictatorship threats exist, and it acts in such a way that the people do not support it and do not have high support among the international community," he explained.
"The only alternative Venezuela has is free elections and to allow a process to achieve a legitimate government," Guido concluded.
