China has condemned "external interference" in Venezuela's elections by the US and France after Caracas decided to bar a pro-West opposition candidate from July's presidential vote.

The Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yvan Gil, congratulates Iran for successfully holding the Friday elections.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has slammed his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei over the US seizure of a Venezuelan cargo plane grounded in Buenos Aires.

The Venezuelan government has ordered the local UN human rights office to “suspend its activities” and vacate its staff within 72 hours, accusing the body of conspiring against the country.

The Venezuelan cargo plane was formerly owned by an Iranian firm.

Venezuela vowed a "forceful response" if oil drilling begins in disputed waters off neighboring Guyana, as announced by US oil giant ExxonMobil this week.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil says he has discussed with Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji ways to bolster the “energy alliance” between the two countries.

Iran says a US threat to reinstate sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector violates the UN Charter and international law.

The US on Monday started to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela by restricting its mining sector after the South American nation’s top court upheld the disqualification of an opposition presidential hopeful.

Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro has expressed concern over the potential collapse of an agreement with the political opposition regarding the upcoming elections this year, attributing the risk to alleged "conspiracies" aimed at undermining his position.