Iran eyes Latin America for support to its bid against 'hegemonic system'

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua in a five-day tour around the region.

Photo: Iran eyes Latin America for support to its bid against 'hegemonic system'

The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, finished a high profile five-day official visit to Latin America on Monday, after attending to the inauguration ceremonies of the new presidents of Ecuador and Nicaragua and meeting the Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, in Caracas. After returning to Tehran on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad did not hide the political meaning of his tour, stating that he supports the “growing movement in Latin America for justice and independence, which shows the opposition of peoples to the hegemonic system”.

Ahmadinejad went even further. He added that “the anger” he witnessed all over the region against “the system” meant his Latin American tour was a success. The Iranian president met with leaders that have openly expressed an anti-US approach on foreign relations.

In Venezuela Ahmadinejad felt really comfortable. In addition to the more than 120 agreements and contracts that have already been signed between Caracas and Tehran in the recent past, the two countries, during the president's visit, inked 11 new agreements. He praised Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez as a "revolutionary" person who has a "practical point of view on cultural, economic and international issues."

"Today there is a growing demand for justice and independence in Latin America. Peoples of the region are tired of policies imposed by countries that support liberal economies and the hegemonic system. They seize every opportunity to demonstrate their clear opposition to the hegemonic system," Ahmadinejad pointed out.

However, the visit of Mr. Ahmadinejad in the region was not welcomed by everyone in Latin America. The President of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, did not attend to Quito, because of the presence of Ahmadinejad in the ceremony.

Argentina has accused Iran of being behind a deadly terrorist attack that killed 85 in a Jewish center of Buenos Aires in 1994. Since then ties between both nations have worsened.

Iran has not a diplomat representantion in Argentina as Buenos Aires has issued international orders to arrest former top Iranian officials, including the former President Ali Rafsanjani. Tehran says evidence used is biased and provided by the CIA and the Mossad and accuses Buenos Aires of backing US efforts to demonize Iran.

In the meantime, Iran does not miss time. Ahmadinejad also met with Bolivia’s President, Evo Morales as announced that Iran would enhance its investment in Latin American states

Tehran has already established an automobile manufacturing company in Venezuela as plans to expand trade and investment across the region. Chavez’s is Ahmadinejad best ally in the region and the one who has opened the doors for many profitable businessess.

Hernan Etchaleco
Pravda.ru