Nicaragua says it has withdrawn from the Organization of American States (OAS), closing the offices of the bloc in the capital city of Managua, despite the regional bloc saying the move was not allowed for another year.

Daniel Ortega is sworn in as the Nicaraguan President for a fourth consecutive term after the US and European Union imposed fresh sanctions on several figures in his government.

The United States imposes an entry ban on Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his government officials, following the Central American country's presidential election earlier this month, which Washington has denounced as "rigged" and "undemocratic."

Preliminary results announced by the country’s Supreme Electoral Council on Monday showed Ortega's Sandinista alliance winning about 76% of votes with almost all the ballots counted.

Foreign Minister Lavrov said, “Well ahead of the election, the US unleashed a campaign not to recognize the results of the vote.”

People in Nicaragua are heading to polling stations to elect a new president.

Iran’s president emphasizes the need for close cooperation with Nicaragua and other Latin American states on the world stage to thwart US sanctions against independent nations.