An Iranian government spokesperson indicated that “if the government and people of Venezuela need foods and basic goods in the future, Iran will send them if required according to its potential… U.S. threats will have no impact on our determination to do free trade and business with Venezuela”. On 6 July, a senior Maduro aide visited Tehran and met with the Iranian presidential chief of staff, who remarked that “we have to prevent any harm to the people’s well-being by the enemies’ sanctions through solidarity and expansion of cooperation and relations”.