Raisi was received with honors in Caracas by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This was the starting point of the Iranian leader’s first visit to Latin America since he was sworn in as president in August 2021. During his visit to Venezuela, Raisi dismissed the use of the dollar and urged the country to try and find formulas that would allow dispensing with the U.S. currency to carry out transactions and commercial exchange in the country’s own currency. “This is one of the premises to achieve a new international order,” he claimed.

During his visit Raisi signed dozens of agreements with the three sanctioned allies. For example, he said Iran, which produces almost all the medicine it needs, will export drugs and medical equipment to Venezuela and Nicaragua, while also aiming to boost university collaboration with all three countries.