TEHRAN, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's deputy foreign minister said in Iran that the Venezuelans are determined to defend their country against any possible foreign attack, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

"The government and its leadership are ready to defend the country if attacked. Venezuela's peaceful history shows that we will defend our country to our last man," Ruben Dario Molina told Tasnim in an interview.

Armed forces are also loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, Molina, who visited Iran recently, was quoted as saying.

The Venezuelan official urged the international community to respect his country's independence and sovereignty in the face of U.S. provocative measures.

He denounced what he called the U.S. sanctions against his country, saying that "these sanctions do not allow the country to properly proceed with its accurate plans to provide food for its people."

"We believe that all problems (inside the country) could be resolved via dialogue," he stressed.