Maduro looks to birth of ‘new era of humanity’ with 20-year Iran deal

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has hailed a 20-year partnership agreement signed with Iran and Venezuela, saying it heralds the birth of a new era and transition to humanity from hegemonism.

“Where will we be in the next 20 years? Can you imagine it?” he said in an exclusive interview with Lebanon’s Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network.

“We will be in a different kind of world. A new era is being born quickly, and what is taking place is indeed the transition of humanity towards a new era and new sense.”

Maduro said a new humanity has already been born and novel trends are shaping global developments, asserting that no one is the sole “policeman” or “judge” in the novel world.

He cited “the birth of a new humanity” as the reason behind his latest international tour which mainly pursued strategic goals.

“It was strategic indeed. Relations are strategic when it comes to the new world and the new humanity that we are building together,” Maduro said, noting he and his entourage were amicably received by leaders and state officials in Turkey, Algeria, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, and Azerbaijan.

The Venezuelan president further noted that a “new world without hegemonic empires has been born,” explaining that “no one is the sole policeman and judge of such a world… We want a world where we are all equal and respect each other, irrespective of the size of our countries.”

“We are indeed part of a multi-polar and multi-centric world, but we are on the front lines,” he said.

“A new consensus has been forged concerning the need for a world of peace and understanding, where international law comes first, and peace and respect for human dignity are above all matters,” the Venezuelan president said.

He recounted how all the leaders he recently met shared the common notion that a new world is emerging.

“I exchanged viewpoints about the need for the birth of a new world with them… There are ideas, words, policies, and actions that express the stances of everyone in one way or another,” he said.

“I believe in the concept of dialog and the importance of diversity in the world. A dialog between cultures, civilizations, ideologies, and leaders of political systems,” the Venezuelan leader added.

He underscored that imperialism has failed to unite humanity under one banner.

Conflict in Ukraine ‘a global war’: Maduro

Maduro also voiced concern about the escalating military and political conflict in Ukraine. “The war in Ukraine is not simply a military confrontation. It is a global and economic war, with political and diplomatic implications. It is indeed a global war. It is a war against Moscow, and its goal is to destroy Russia,” he commented.

He then slammed Western sanctions against Russia in the wake of its military operations in Ukraine, saying, “The bans have rebounded on Europe and the United States, and adversely affected the whole world. The prices of foodstuffs, fertilizers, and oil have spiked and the economic crisis has worsened. No European and US elite had forecast such a thing to happen.”

“The only thing that European and American elites are concerned about is their desire for revenge, especially against Russia. This is what worries me the most,” Maduro lamented.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Maduro reiterated Venezuela’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

“As a Bolivarian Revolution fighter, we really want peace for the entire region. We want peace for the Palestinian nation, for the people of Lebanon, for the people of Syria, for the people of Iraq, for the people of Iran and for all the peoples living in this region,” he underlined.

“We seek peace that respects the right of people to existence. Venezuela reaffirms its firm support for the Palestinian cause. Venezuela reiterates its solidarity and support for Palestinians’ historical rights concerning the liberation of occupied lands and the establishment of an independent state within the framework of international principles, as ratified repeatedly by the United Nations. We are against the threats of war, aggression, and violence,” Maduro concluded.