Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Nicolas Maduro, in Iran on a two-day visit, that “the conclusion that can be drawn from the resistance and success of the two nations of Iran and Venezuela is that the only solution when facing [political and economic] pressures is resistance and persistence. At the same time, the cooperation between the… [two countries] should become stronger and relations should become closer than before”. He further noted that “Iran has proven that when dangers arise for its friends, Iran takes risks and helps its friends”. During Maduro’s visit, Iran and Venezuela signed a “comprehensive 20-year strategic cooperation document”; Iran also provided Venezuela with an oil tanker.