Iran Continues To Penetrate South America

by Jonathan Schanzer  •  Aug 7, 2007 at 10:25 am  •  updated Aug 7, 2007 at 10:32 am

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/blog/2007/08/iran-continues-to-penetrate-south

The BBC today reports on how Iran is helping Nicaragua develop infrastructure in return for farm products. Under a new trade deal, Iran will help build a port, houses and industrial sites. In return, Nicaragua will export coffee, meat and bananas to Iran.

The two countries, which have strained ties with Washington, have grown close since Daniel Ortega became Nicaraguan President in January 2007. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Managua in January and Ortega visited Tehran in June.

For more on Iran's plans to create an anti-Washington bloc in the Southern Hemisphere, read Dina Siegel Vann's excellent piece from the summer issue of inFocus.

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