Tasnim � Iran�s Foreign Ministry welcomed high-level peace talks between Venezuela's government and political opposition in Norway, hoping that the Latin American nation could revive its ailing economy in peace.

In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi welcomed the initiative for peace talks between the Venezuelan government and opposition in Norway.

�We hope these talks would result in a political solution between the two sides and Venezuela could immediately improve the status of its economy and livelihood of its people in calmness,� he added.

The spokesman further warned against the destructive consequences of foreign interference in Venezuela�s internal affairs, adding, �The US has unfortunately given the people of Venezuela a collective punishment by blocking and plundering its financial assets.�

Mousavi urged the US government to abandon the policy of �economic terrorism� towards Venezuela and stop the �illegal behaviors that run counter to human rights norms� for the improvement of the Venezuelan nation�s conditions.

Reports of a meeting between representatives of the government of Venezuela and the opposition in Norway's capital of Oslo first emerged on Thursday, as the two sides have been engaged in a power struggle since January.

Reports of the peace talks have been confirmed by Juan Jorge Valero, Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido said he had sent "some envoys" to Norway, but denied that talks had already been held with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's delegation.

Venezuela has plunged into political crisis after Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president in January.

Shortly after Guaido took an oath swearing himself in before his supporters, US President Donald Trump recognized him as the country's leader. In response, Venezuela�s President Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with the US and expelled American diplomats from his country.