Exclusive video: Venezuelan gunship escorts Iran’s fuel-laden tanker

Exclusive footage captured from inside an Iranian gasoline-laden tanker shows a Venezuelan army aircraft providing protection to the vessel as it sails towards a port in the South American state, braving US threats.

The footage, which was released by Iran’s Press TV on Tuesday, was filmed from inside the steering gear room of “Forest,” the second vessel in a five-strong fleet of Iranian tankers that have been tasked with shipping some 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and refining components to the country.

The video showed a Venezuelan gunship hovering overhead as the Latin American country’s military was providing protection for the monumental vessel. 

According to reports, “Forest” is sailing towards Venezuela’s Punta Cardon port, where it is supposed to unload its cargo.

Venezuela’s Telesur television network said “Fortune,” the lead vessel of the flotilla, had reached a port in the northern state of Carabobo and delivered fuel to the key El Palito refinery.

It had earlier reported that Forest — which had arrived in Venezuelan waters in the early hours of May 25 — had also docked at the El Palito port and fed gasoline to the oil processing facility.

Both vessels were escorted by ships and planes of the Venezuelan armed forces amid increased US military presence in the Caribbean.

“Faxon,” the third of the vessels, is also expected to enter Venezuela’s share of the Caribbean Sea at 14:00 local time on Wednesday. The two remaining vessels were last reported to be still crossing the Atlantic.

On Sunday, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro defended his country’s right to free trade with Iran, saying neither Caracas nor Tehran will ever knuckle under Washington’s pressure.

Venezuela defends ‘right’ to free trade with Iran

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Maduro referred to the two countries as “revolutionary peoples, who will never kneel down before the North American empire.”

Upon the first tanker’s arrival, Venezuelans stormed Twitter to similarly express gratitude towards Tehran for the shipments, turning “GraciasIran” into the Latin American nation’s top-trending hashtag on the social networking platform.

Venezuela’s refining facilities have, according to Reuters, been operating at about 10% of their 1.3 million-barrel-per-day capacity this year under pressure from the American sanctions, forcing authorities to impose rationing at gas stations nationwide over the past two months.

The United States has repeatedly avowed its intention to oust Maduro, recognizing opposition figure Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s president. 

Trump’s administration, which has imposed harsh oil sanctions on Iran as well, said earlier this month that it was considering “measures” to take in response to the shipments.

Tehran has sternly warned that it would retaliate against any attempt by Washington to trouble the fuel exports.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir