US raids Venezuelan embassy following cargo plane seizure

FBI and Secret Service agents raided the residence of the Venezuelan Embassy in the capital, Washington, in the evening hours.

No information has been shared about the raid.

The raid on the embassy residence comes as repercussions continue following the announcement that the United States seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane purchased by a Venezuelan cargo company from Iran’s Mahan Air, citing “export restrictions related to Iran.”

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Iran’s Mahan Air in 2019 over allegations of its connection with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated a cargo plane belonging to the country was “stolen” with the cooperation of Argentina and the U.S., describing the event as “theft.”

National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela condemned the seizure of the cargo plane by the U.S. and demanded that the aircraft, valued at $83 million, be “immediately” returned to the country.

Venezuela has suspended the activities of the UN Human Rights Office

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has announced the suspension of the activities of the United Nations (U.N.) Human Rights Commissioner’s Office in the country, citing its lack of “neutrality.”

Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stated that the work of the U.N. Human Rights Office in the country has been suspended, and they have requested 13 U.N. staff members to leave the country within 72 hours.