Economic and trade ties between Iran and Venezuela should expand Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi told his counterpart Nicolas Maduro in a phone call on Saturday.

Raisi told Maduro that bilateral relations between the two countries are strategic and emphasized that ties should expand during his administration that came into office in August. He added that bilateral ties should be strengthened specially in trade and economy.

Tehran has established close relations with Caracas in the past 15 years and has defied US sanctions on both countries by shipping fuel across the Atlantic to prop up the beleaguered Maduro government. The Trump administration seized one such large shipment and auctioned off the cargo.

Raisi also emphasized the quest of both countries to defy the United States, saying that “we will continue the path of progress.” He also highlighted the need for more cooperation in the energy sector and congratulated Maduro for the recent elections in his country.

US sanctions have battered the economy of the two countries as they are unable to export oil to global markets and their national currencies have nosedived in recent years.