MNA � Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he is convinced that Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba are real friends of the country as they provide all-round help to Caracas.

"Humanitarian aid is coming from China, Russia, Iran and Cuba. They are [Venezuela�s] true friends," Maduro said in a speech broadcast by the state TV on Sunday, according to Tass.

He recalled that the US was offering $20 million worth of help, "but not a single dollar came through".

Last week Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he would visit Iran shortly to sign cooperation agreements in energy and other sectors.

�I am obliged to go to personally thank the people,� Maduro said in a state television address, without providing a date for the visit.

Iran has sent five tankers loaded with 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate to Venezuela to help jump-start the oil refineries in the Latin American state amid a fuel crisis.

Maduro in a message termed the shipment of Iranian fuel to Venezuela as a sign of Tehran-Caracas solidarity.