Ivan Duque, on visit to Israel, says leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua increasingly friendly to Tehran, and cautions about Hezbollah movement in region

12 members return home while seven of their colleagues, including one alleged member of the IRGC, are still barred from leaving Argentina due to suspected violation of US sanctions

Minister, pro-government lawmakers hold protest outside Argentinian embassy in Caracas, call for release of aircraft that carried Iranian with alleged ties to Quds Force

Seven of the 19 crew members to be retained in Argentina; judge says there are still elements to be investigated regarding Iranian Gholamrez Ghasemi, designated a member of IRGC

Maduro meets with Raisi in Tehran; 2 nations are subject to US sanctions; countries also set to cooperate in political, cultural, tourism, economic, oil and petrochemical fields

Caracas meeting comes just weeks after a quiet visit by US officials in the midst of rising global oil prices due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Defense Minister tells US Jewish leadership group that Tehran also gave South American nation precision-guided missiles to be used with Mohajer-6 drone

Maduro says he has spoken twice with his Iranian counterpart Raisi, pair have agreed on new plans; looking at ties with Middle East, says Arab nations 'love Venezuela'

Alex Saab, arrested in 2020 as he headed to Iran, believed to be a key figure with insight into alleged corruption by President Maduro, who fought against extradition

As Makran and Sahand appear to head for the Atlantic, some American officials worry they are carrying weapons for Venezuela; others expect them to turn back soon