After the United States announced the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, harsh warnings began to be heard from Israel.
Israeli political figure Yair Lapid urged Tehran to pay serious attention to what is happening in Venezuela, a statement that immediately sparked wider geopolitical speculation.
The move to bring Maduro to the US came less than a week after President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was seen as a signal of more aggressive policy coordination, particularly against Iran, including threats of new attacks.
Although Washington's conflicts with Caracas and Tehran stem from different issues, analysts are beginning to link the move against Maduro as part of Trump's maximum pressure strategy, which could potentially pave the way for a larger conflict involving Iran.
The president of the Iran-America Council, Jamal Abdi, believes that this situation is increasing global instability and narrowing the gap towards war.
According to him, the move either reflects Trump's inclination towards a regime change strategy or is a form of indirect support for Israel to act more harshly against Iran.
Abdi also warned that Maduro's arrest risks triggering a military response from Iran, either through strengthening defense capabilities or early preventive measures against US and Israeli threats.
Meanwhile, geopolitical expert from the Center for International Policy, Negar Mortazavi, sees US actions in Venezuela as a manifestation of Trump's extreme approach that closes the space for diplomacy.
Based on information from Tehran, Iran is reportedly no longer interested in negotiating with the US administration, which is seen as demanding complete surrender.
This situation, according to Mortazavi, makes diplomacy increasingly difficult and increases the risk of open confrontation between Israel, Iran and the United States.
Washington has previously pressured the Venezuelan government for months with various accusations, including allegations of Maduro's involvement in drug syndicates and claims over the country's oil reserves.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, also linked Caracas' close ties with Tehran, including allegations that Venezuela gives space to pro-Iranian armed groups in the Western Hemisphere.
Maduro is an important ally of Iran, with the two countries, which are subject to heavy sanctions, continuing to strengthen their multi-billion dollar trade relations. Maduro’s fall would further shrink Iran’s network of allies, after losing influence in Syria and continuing pressure on Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran was quick to condemn the US action and called for United Nations intervention. Tehran described the move as an illegal invasion of a sovereign state and a serious violation of international peace.
Overall, the US’s aggressive actions against Venezuela are not just regional political pressure, but potentially open a new phase in the US–Iran geopolitical confrontation.
The risk of global instability is now rising, while the space for diplomacy is shrinking, making the likelihood of a large-scale conflict increasingly difficult to avoid.
