Iran and its ties in Latin America

Historically, relations between Latin America and Iran have been of little relevance, mainly due to cultural differences and, of course, geographical differences.

However, over the past 40 years, this region has become important for the Islamic Republic, which is seeking to expand its influence and operations on the continent. Iran has strengthened its diplomatic, economic and security presence in Latin America, especially with anti-US regimes such as Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
In recent decades, dangerous links with non-state actors such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and groups associated with drug trafficking and smuggling have been revealed.

In this context, it is relevant to emphasize that the armed group Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon and Syria with the support of the Syrian regime and Tehran, began its penetration in South America in the early 80s, taking advantage of the migration of Lebanese to the region as a result of the exodus generated by the civil war between 1975 and 1990. Indeed, this organization deployed activists in the triple border region located between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, where the meager government presence allowed for recruitment, money laundering and financing activities.
According to a 2018 article in The Wall Street Journal, the free trade zone was described as a “large mall of illicit goods and money” where Hezbollah is present. Additionally, the FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) research institute in the United States indicated that “It would be easier to say in which countries it does not have a presence, because it has a fairly well-established network in Latin America, which extends from Mexico to Chile, passing through Guatemala or Costa Rica.”

Today, the expansion of Iranian influence on the continent has emerged as an alarming phenomenon. Bolivia stands out as one of Iran’s most successful projects in the region, with a considerable impact from a geostrategic perspective.

The US military presence in the Middle East and the regime of penalties imposed by the West on Iran have restricted its options, so it is looking for a new area of ​​profit in this region, confronting the United States in a different way. Bolivia in particular has a strategic geographical location, sharing borders with five South American countries and its valuable position on drug trafficking routes, making it a country of preeminence for Iran.

Currently, Iran and Bolivia maintain diplomatic relations, reaching various cooperation agreements, including the opening of an Iranian commercial office in La Paz and its counterpart in Tehran, in addition to the promotion of high-level diplomacy, reaching the point of signing a memorandum of understanding in mid-2023 to “expand” bilateral cooperation in the field of security and defense, which to date has not been detailed and the parties have barely announced that it is aimed at assisting the Andean country in its fight against drug trafficking, strengthening the surveillance of its borders. According to the former Argentine intelligence secretary Miguel Ángel Toma, “Iran has three times more officials in its Embassy in La Paz than it has in Madrid, Spain”; “It is a key fact that Bolivia has become a base of operations for Iran, in its project to penetrate Latin America.

The extent of Iran's influence in Latin America is complex and difficult to pinpoint. Iran's gradual presence in the region, illustrated by its relationship with Bolivia and other state actors, suggests a significant strategic shift in its foreign policy. With the US security focus currently focused on curbing the ascendancy of China and Russia, the task of countering Iran in the Americas presents an additional challenge that should not be underestimated. An increased Iranian presence in the region could seriously hamper Washington's relations on the continent, leading to a context that is contrary to US interests.

The establishment of trade offices and the signing of cooperation agreements in sensitive areas such as security and defense between Iran and Bolivia are indicators of a relationship that goes beyond the merely diplomatic. These agreements, although publicly presented as efforts to combat drug trafficking and improve border security, could have deeper and more worrying implications, turning the highland country into a focal point for Iranian influence in the region.

The threat to regional stability posed by growing Iranian influence is evident. This influence not only has the potential to destabilize countries close to Bolivia, but also to affect international relations more broadly. Iran’s growing presence in a country that already faces significant challenges in terms of governance and security could create an enabling environment for groups considered dangerous to the integrity of democratic governments to find refuge and support. This phenomenon is especially worrying given the Middle Eastern country’s history of providing patronage to entities that undermine stability and harmony in various regions of the world.

Karla Gaona
Collaboration: Daniel Chitrit