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Last update - 22:05 02/02/2009
What lurks behind Iran's close relationship with Venezuela?
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hezbollah, Venezuela 

Venezuela and Iran have recently stepped up mutual cooperation in efforts to establish terror bases and infrastructure across Latin America, United Nations sources in New York believe.

The sources base their assessment on senior Israeli and American officials and say that Iran has substantially boosted its presence in several Latin American states and increased the number of Iranian representatives in those states' embassies and consulates in a bid to give a diplomatic cover to spy and underground activity.


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he Iranian effort, which has been joined by Venezuela in a joint effort to establish a strong terror base in the region, is especially palpable in countries ruled by anti-American left wing regimes such as Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Nonetheless, Iran has also increased its presence in Mexico and Colombia, which are considered more U.S. friendly. The rate of the increase of Iranian personnel in Mexican and Colombian embassies were described by the New York sources as "astronomical" and as "not proportional with the embassies' local requirements." Some believe that this increase is in fact in preparation for subversive activity.

In an exclusive report on the Iran-Venezuela cooperation, published by news Website Newsmax, a study conducted by Israel's Foreign Ministry is quoted as saying that 30 Iranian diplomats were dispatched to Nicaragua. A similar number was dispatched to Venezuela and other Latin American countries.

Iranian activity in Latin America is partially overt, and generally draws on local support for organizations such as the Lebanese militia Hezbollah in different areas of Latin America. The deadly terror attack at the Buenos Aires Israel Embassy in 1992 which killed 29 people, as well as the car bombing near a Buenos Aires Jewish community center which left 85 people dead in 1994, were both linked to Iranian and Hezbollah-style local cells.

During last week's U.S. Senate hearing, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accused Iran of "subversive activity" in Latin America, saying "I'm concerned about the level of frankly subversive activity that the Iranians are carrying on in a number of places in Latin America particularly South America and Central America," Gates told lawmakers.
"They're opening a lot of offices and a lot of fronts behind which they interfere in what is going on in some of these countries," he said.

According to the UN sources, Iran is also maintaining contacts with Colombian drug smugglers and local rebel organizations, and using the smuggling routes to transfer light weaponry, ammunition and missiles to its embassies.

Related articles:
  • Israel expels Venezuela envoys, cuts ties with Caracas
  • Chavez providing aid to Hamas and Hezbollah, says new book
  • Israel mulls downgrading ties with Venezuela due to Iran alliance
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      1.   What about Shiha community in Latin America? 22:34  |  John 02/02/09
      2.   IT`S A TRAP FROM IRAN. CAUTION. 22:35  |  BOB KING 02/02/09
      3.   Get a grip! Latin American countries need defense... 22:36  |  Maureen Ann 02/02/09
      4.   Obama will talk to both & bring them to their senses? 22:43  |  "peace in out time" 02/02/09
      5.   So this is only based on Israeli and American officials? 22:43  |  JustMe 02/02/09
      6.   Now Latin America is a `terrorist` base? 22:54  |  Lou Medel 02/02/09
      7.   Turnabout is always fair play 23:10  |  Natallie Durson 02/02/09
      8.   Gun Boat Diplomacy 23:48  |  alcycle 02/02/09
      9.   To Israel Everyone is aterrorist 23:58  |  Nadine 02/02/09
      10.   What a rubbish article again, 00:20  |  Daniel 03/02/09
      11.   Natalie`s Turnabout.. 00:38  |  Real Person 03/02/09
      12.   Unbelievable 00:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/02/09
      13.   Get a grip 01:24  |  Stephen 03/02/09
      14.   Do they think we are all idiots 01:28  |  Roo 03/02/09
      15.   If your not with us your a "Terrorist" 01:33  |  Marc Lebanon 03/02/09
      16.   EXPORTING "the Revolution" is not new in Latin America 01:33  |  PETER SM 03/02/09
      17.   oh please stop, the laughter is killing me 01:35  |  Roo 03/02/09
      18.   NADINE To Israel and the whole world Islamists are terrorists. 01:42  |  PETER SM 03/02/09
      19.   Friends 01:43  |  John 03/02/09
      20.   What is the real Iranian goal here? 03:14  |  Brian 03/02/09
      21.   #8 Alcycle 03:19  |  Lou Medel 03/02/09
      22.   to all of those on the site who think that this is not a 04:07  |  Steve 03/02/09
      23.   iran in latin america 04:42  |  menuchasarah 03/02/09
      24.   ROO did you hear the one about Nuclear missiles in Cuba? 05:29  |  PETER SM 03/02/09
      25.   To Natallie Durson from Middle Eastern LA 05:44  |  Bob 03/02/09
      26.   #3 05:59  |  Moshe 03/02/09
      27.   What lurks behind America`s relationship with the Saudis 06:33  |  noalternative 03/02/09
      28.   Would you believe? 08:49  |  Rob Bennett 03/02/09
      29.   It is business 11:00  |  JJ 03/02/09
      30.   I am with you #13 and #14. 19:23  |  Truth Seeker 03/02/09
      31.   PETER SM -Did you hear the one about 20:11  |  Roo 03/02/09
      32.   Iran 02:20  |  Abu 08/02/09
      33.   Cant You See Whats Going On 08:05  |  Bonzzze 18/03/09
      34.   ! 08:07  |  ! 18/03/09
      35.   Peter SM....you`re right! 19:56  |  Maria 27/03/09
      36.   Democracy and why it don`t work. 15:36  |  John 09/09/09
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