Iran has condemned the new U.S. law signed by President Barack Obama that seeks to counter Iran’s alleged influence in Latin America, calling it “a blatantly interventionist” move.
ISNA reports that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast: said on Tuesday January 1: “We recommend that instead of such interventionist moves, they respect the rights of other nations… World public opinion will no longer accept such interventionist actions.”
According to a new law signed by Obama on December 28, the U.S. State Department is charged with finding ways to curb Iran’s alleged influence in Latin America.
Mehmanparast said the move betrays that the U.S. “is not familiar with international relations” and is “still operating with the Cold War mentality and thinks it can impose its policies on independent countries.”
Iran is on friendly terms with Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, three nations that are among the strong critics of U.S. international policy in recent years.
Mehmanparast stressed that Tehran’s relations with all countries, especially with Latin America, are based on “mutual respect and interest.”
The Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act, which calls on the State Department to “address Iran’s growing hostile presence and activity” in Latin America, was approved by legislators, even though the State Department and intelligence officials reported that there is no apparent sign of illicit activities by Iran in the region.
