Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro strongly condemned the Israeli attacks against Iran saying “this madness must be stopped” during a televised program on Friday (June 13).

The remarks were made during a televised meeting with governors and ministers in Caracas and come after the actions of Israel, which launched large-scale strikes against Iran early on Friday saying it was the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Iran launched retaliatory airstrikes on Friday night, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel's two largest cities.

From Venezuela, the head of state criticized the actions of the United Nations and international actors such as Germany, France and the United States regarding the new attack against Iran and previous Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

"Will they continue to support the Hitler of the 21st century, now attacking the noble and peaceful people of the Islamic Republic of Iran?" asked Maduro, referring to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Maduro then made a call to the people of Israel to "stop the madness" of Benjamin Netanyahu. "Stop the aggression and war against the Palestinian people, against the people of Lebanon, against the people of Syria, against the people of Yemen, and against the noble people of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the leader added.

Iran and Israel also targeted each other with missiles and airstrikes early on Saturday (June 14).

The Israeli strikes on Iran and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JUNE 13, 2025) (VENEZUELA GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF VENEZUELA PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT MINISTERS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING [SOUNDBITE STARTS OVER WIDE SHOT OF EVENT]:

"The United Nations has allowed the bombing and destruction of Beirut and Lebanon, they have allowed the bombing and destruction of Syria, every day they allow the bombing of the Arab people of Yemen, and now they will also look the other way? Now, what does Berlin say? What does Paris say? What does London say? What does Washington say? Will they continue to support the Hitler of the 21st century (REFERRING TO: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) now attacking the noble and peaceful people of the Islamic Republic of Iran? Well, I say the Bolivarian, humanist and peaceful people of Venezuela say: no to war. This madness must be stopped."

3. ATTENDEES AT MEETING APPLAUDING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING:

"People of Israel, Jewish brotherly people, as a Christian and heir of Sephardics, I tell you: stop the madness of Benjamin Netanyahu. Only the people of Israel can stop this madness. Where will this warmongering lead? Where will so much racism, intolerance, so much hatred, so much violence lead? Do they believe that with missiles and bombs they will subdue the will of the peoples of the world? Where will so much destruction lead? Stop the aggression and war against the Palestinian people, against the people of Lebanon, against the people of Syria, against the people of Yemen, and against the noble people of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The ball is in the court of the Jewish people of Israel. Stop this immoral war, this criminal war."

5. MADURO AT MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT MINISTERS