Iran condemns U.S. declaration on closing Venezuela's airspace

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Sunday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that the airspace around Venezuela should be considered closed.

Baghaei called the move a blatant violation of international norms and fundamental rules of international law, including those governing international air transport.

He described it as part of Washington's ongoing "provocative and unlawful actions" against Venezuela's sovereignty and territorial integrity, denouncing the move as an "arbitrary act and an unprecedented threat" to the safety and security of international aviation.

Trump said on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed "in its entirety."

"To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social without elaboration.

(With input from Xinhua)