Iran's Foreign Minister Begins Trip to Six Central and South American Countries

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, departed Tehran for Havana early Sunday morning, August 31, to meet and discuss with officials from Cuba, Nicaragua, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela. Cuba is the first destination of Zarif's trip, followed by Nicaragua. The visit to Chile marks the first trip by an Iranian Foreign Minister to the country since the 1979 revolution. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, reports that a 'high-level political and economic delegation' is accompanying Zarif on this trip. Nuclear sanctions against Tehran were lifted following the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers; the Iranian President and officials from Hassan Rouhani's government have undertaken various trips to countries around the world in recent months, many of which aimed at increasing economic and political relations. Bahram Qasemi, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, described Zarif's trip to these six Central and South American countries as 'to strengthen political and economic relations with them.' According to Qasemi, Zarif's trip is part of a 'strategy committed to a balanced outlook.' Over the past years, Iran has provided financial assistance to some Latin American countries, including trade agreements and financial aid granted during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency between Tehran and Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. Meanwhile, Chile is a country that recently opened an embassy in Tehran after the establishment of Hassan Rouhani's government. Relations between Iran and Chile were severed in 1980 with the rise of Augusto Pinochet, but in 1992, the Iranian government allowed the restoration of relations. The Iranian embassy in Chile operated unilaterally until 1999 but was closed again until it resumed activities in 2007. According to ISNA news agency, the main items exported from Chile to Iran include boric acid, paper pulp, fruits, and leather. Nicaragua primarily exports coffee, meat, and bananas to Iran. Both Iran and Venezuela are OPEC members. Venezuela is currently facing an economic and energy crisis, and with the rise of opposition forces in parliament, the political scene in that country has also undergone changes. Ecuador, another OPEC member, is also a producer of oil (40% of total exports), bananas, gold, and shrimp. There is not much of a relationship between Iran and Bolivia, and the chargé d'affaires of that country in Tehran stated last year that the volume of trade between the two sides had 'almost reached zero.' In this context, Iran issued an ultimatum to Venezuela regarding the petrochemical project. What goals does Iran pursue in Latin America? The lessons of Venezuela's disaster. Iran and the spread of Islam in Latin America. Changing the game for 'proxies'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump: I hope there is no need for further action regarding Iran; they were killing people without restraint. The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran.' Trump emphasizes 'stopping executions in Iran': we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump says if the Islamic Republic carries out an assassination against him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth.' The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis.