Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry announced that it summoned the ambassador of the Islamic Republic and delivered to him a formal protest note in response to remarks it described as “insulting and inappropriate.”

In a statement, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry said that the ambassador of the Islamic Republic was summoned to receive the protest note regarding remarks against “institutions and officials of Venezuela.”

The protest appears to have been prompted by statements made by Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister. When referring to negotiations with the United States, Araqchi had said: “The Islamic Republic is not Venezuela.”

The summoning of the ambassador of the Islamic Republic is considered a rare sign of open disagreement between two long-time allies.