The world has felt the tremor. In a move ripped from a darker, forgotten chapter of history, the United States under President Donald Trump invaded Venezuela, abducting its leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Earlier last week, the Trump administration carried out a military assault on Venezuela, abducting President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and taking them to New York.

Iran's main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq

The United States' overnight assault on Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being sold as an anti-drug mission and a law enforcement action.

The US strike in Venezuela has triggered a crisis with potentially global consequences

A US government plane carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after nightfall, and he was transported by helicopter to New York City

In a brief phone interview with The New York Times, Trump hailed the 'brilliant' operation

*Explosions heard in Venezuela's capital *Maduro declares state of emergency

Since September last year, the Trump administration has taken a hard line against Venezuela.