Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday that he will visit Iran shortly to seal new cooperation agreements with the Middle Eastern country, which has emerged as Venezuela's most important ally in expanding oil output in the face of US sanctions.

Since last year, Venezuela and Iran have expanded their ties. Iran has provided essential technology to Maduro's government for its oil industry, in exchange for petroleum and other main resources from the South American country. In 2021, Iran will be critical to Venezuela's expanding oil production.

"I'm going to Teheran very soon for a visit that President (Ebrahim) Raisi has offered me, so that we can meet in person, have conversations, sign new agreements... and speed up processes of cooperation," Maduro said in a Spanish-language interview with satellite news broadcaster Al Mayadeen, which was later broadcast on Venezuelan state television. Maduro claimed he spoke with Iran's president on the phone twice and that they agreed to work on new plans, but he didn't elaborate. He didn't specify a specific date for the visit, but referred to the two countries as "fighters."

Maduro stated that "they adore us in the Arab world, I know that Arab governments and peoples love Venezuela," and that "in 2022, Venezuela would strive to revitalise ways of collaboration with Arab countries."

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