Sharona Schwartz:
Iran continues to actively cultivate ties among its allies in Latin America, including Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia, a policy that some have warned could bring terrorism closer to U.S. borders.
Iranian media has been filled with reports over the past week touting the ten-day visit to Latin America by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi.
In Havana on Thursday, senior Cuban officials praised Iran and expressed interest in further strengthening ties with the Islamic Republic.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parilla said his country supports Iran pursuing civilian nuclear power.
“Rodriguez said the Islamic Republic has an absolute right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in line with international regulations,” Iran’s Press TV reported.
“He added that the Iranian government attaches special significance to strengthening relations with Latin American and the Caribbean countries and is prepared to take more steps towards the expansion of ties with those states,” it further reported.
Another Cuban official called Iran a “strategic partner.”
“Cuba is ready to take effective steps to expand [its] trade and economic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran as its strategic partner,” Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investments Luis Antonio Karikarte Crown said according to Iran’s Press TV.
From Cuba, the Iranian official traveled to Venezuela then Bolivia.
During a meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ravanchi said, “Relations with Venezuela are important for Iran and the (Iranian) government is determined to deepen mutual cooperation,” according to a report in Iran’s Fars News.
“Caracas supports Tehran’s freedom-seeking aspirations,” Maduro was quoted as saying.
