Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Iran could send arms to Venezuela to use against the United States. His remarks come as President Donald Trump faces pressure from pro-Israel conservatives to support regime change in Tehran.
During an interview with Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren, Netanyahu claimed that Iran, once a major regional power, has been weakened but remains dangerous. “We’ve had an unbelievable success degrading Iran, which was a first-rate power, now it’s a second-rate or third-rate power,” he said.
Netanyahu warned that Iran has exported terrorism widely, including to Venezuela, and maintains ties with the Maduro regime. “They’re exporting terrorism to America, to the American hemisphere, and they want Hezbollah and Hamas to get their operatives into the United States,” he said. “Hamas, Iran, and its proxies threaten Israel, all America’s allies in the Middle East, and the United States itself.”
Van Susteren noted that Senator Marco Rubio has long highlighted Hezbollah’s presence in Venezuela, connected to the drug trade. “They may use guns against Israelis, but they use drugs against the United States,” she said.
Netanyahu responded, “Exactly. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of arms shipments from Iran to Venezuela, so this has got to change.”
The comments come amid U.S. actions in Venezuelan waters. Reports say the CIA carried out its first drone strike on Venezuelan territory this month. The Trump administration has also targeted Venezuelan boats suspected of smuggling drugs and seized an oil tanker off the country’s coast.
Some critics, including informal White House adviser Laura Loomer, questioned why the administration is not targeting Mexican drug routes. She noted that over 90% of the drugs entering the U.S., especially fentanyl, come from Mexico.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) warned that these boat strikes could be a “prelude” to a larger U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, pro-Israel allies have encouraged Trump to support regime change in Iran. Former Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz said on Newsmax, “If President Trump wants to be known as the peace president, he has to support regime change.”
Netanyahu stressed that, while Iran has been weakened, work remains to curb the influence of its regional proxies. His comments signal continued concern over Iran’s alliances in Latin America and the potential risks to the U.S. and its allies.
The warnings about Iran and Venezuela come amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Americas and the Middle East, with the Trump administration taking increasingly aggressive actions to counter perceived threats.