Tasnim - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro thanked Iran for helping the South American country overcome US sanctions on its oil industry.

Earlier this year, Tehran sent several gasoline cargoes to Venezuela to help it overcome fuel shortages, as well as equipment to help state oil company PDVSA repair its dilapidated refineries.

�We are helping each other,� Maduro said in an interview broadcast on state television on Sunday. �I think the Iranian experience will help us reinforce our management capacity.�

Colombian President Ivan Duque said this week Maduro was eyeing missile purchases from Iran, which Venezuelan officials denied.

But in the interview, Maduro said Duque�s statement was a �good idea� he had not yet considered. �If it is possible and convenient, we will buy those missiles,� he said.