Iran is not Venezuela, despite Trump’s hopes of repeating ‘regime capture’ strategy

Experts say US influence over South American neighbour will be hard to replicate in country with deep and long-standing antipathy to the west

First, the CIA tracks the head of an oil-rich, US-baiting nation to a heavily guarded compound at the heart of his country’s mountain-flanked capital.

Then, that leader is removed from power with a deadly and irresistible show of US military force.

Finally, a more pliant successor is installed to do Washington’s bidding.

That was the recipe for Donald Trump’s recent capture of Venezuela’s regime. The country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was abducted in Caracas before dawn on 3 January.