Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi has sent a message to Félix Plasencia, Venezuela's newly appointed Minister of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade, congratulating him on his appointment. The full text of the foreign minister's message to his Venezuelan counterpart is as follows: His Excellency Mr. Félix Plasencia Minister of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Dear Mr. Minister, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency on your appointment as the Minister of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I wish you every success in your new position. I hope that the long-standing and friendly relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will continue to expand and deepen during your tenure. I would also like to express my appreciation and respect to Mr. Yván Gil, the former Minister of Foreign Relations and Foreign Trade, for his valuable efforts and services in strengthening the relations and cooperation between our two countries. I wish him every success and distinction in his new position as Minister of Science and Technology. Seyed Abbas Araqchi Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran