Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said yesterday that the US is “concerned” about Irani influence in Latin America, noting that it is “not positive” for the region.
During a visit to Peru, Jacobson told the national Radio Programas del Perú that “The United States is concerned and is very alert, because Iran’s influence is not positive for the region.”
Irani President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took a tour of Latin America through December and January, stopping in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Cuba.
Also in January, Iran launched a Spanish television network called Hispan TV via satellite.
In addition, Ahmadinejad also called Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to congratulate her on her re-election last October.
On the broadcast, Jacobson said the United States is interested now more than ever in Latin America.
“There is a lot of interest in Latin America, not only for being part of a global world, but also because in the United States we have a Latino population that is growing,” she said.
According to local press reports, Jacobson will meet with Peru’s government officials, business people and other citizens before moving on to Argentina.
