Terrorist-sponsoring nation Iran is increasing its presence in Latin America, and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization it sponsors, is making inroads in drug trafficking in Colombia, according to Pentagon spokesperson Donna Miles in a press statement to the National Association of Chiefs of Police. During a recent congressional hearing, Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis told the House Armed Services Committee that he shares the concerns of Defense Secretary Robert Gates about Iranian activity...

Regarding reports on cancellation of Iran's President trip to Brazil due to pressures on the South American country, he said Brazil issued a statement a head of Iran's president trip in which it said it acts independently on relations with other countries. Brazilian foreign ministry then declared the trip was cancelled by Iranian side after the visit was postponed for another time, he said. Source:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has canceled a trip to Latin America scheduled for this week, Iran's official state news agency reported on Monday. Ahmadinejad was to leave Wednesday for visits in Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador, according to IRNA, which gave no reason for the cancellation. The Iranian leader will travel on Tuesday to Syria, a country with which Tehran is closely linked. News of Ahmadinejad's canceled trip comes after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton...

In an apparent change of policy, Israel took credit on Tuesday for blocking Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's trip to South America. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman issued a statement taking partial credit for stopping the trip, in a move that represented a break from previous government policy of trying to stay behind the scenes when it came to diplomatic steps against Iran. One government source pointed out that former prime minister Ariel Sharon had taken on that policy so as not...

Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has postponed a planned visit to Latin America as his administration braces itself for the upcoming presidential elections. President Ahmadinejad was scheduled to leave Tehran on Tuesday for official visits to Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela. However, Fars news agency reported on Monday that the president had indefinitely postponed his three-country tour. The report comes as the White House has expressed discomfort with Iran's growing influence in Latin...

RIO DE JANEIRO: Hundreds of people gathered for protests on the weekend in Brazil's largest cities against an upcoming visit of Iran's president. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive in Brazil on Wednesday for talks with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Around 400 members of sexual minorities and the Jewish community held a rally in central Sao Paolo, where Ahmadinejad and his 110-member delegation will pay a visit. Protestors accused the Iranian leader of...

WASHINGTON - Iran is increasing its presence in Latin America, and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization it sponsors, is making inroads in drug trafficking in Colombia, the commander of U.S. Southern Command told Congress today. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis told the House Armed Services Committee he shares concerns expressed by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates about Iranian activity in Central and South America. Iran has opened six embassies in the region during the past five years and is...

The commander of U.S. forces in Latin America says the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is involved in drug trafficking in Colombia. The admiral is worried about increased Iranian and Hezbollah activities throughout the region. At Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday Admiral James Stavridis accused Hezbollah of involvement in the drug trade. "We have seen in Colombia a direct connection between Hezbollah activity and the narco-trafficking activity," he...

WASHINGTON - Iran is increasing its activity in Latin America and the Caribbean, including actions aimed at supporting the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a top U.S. military commander said on Tuesday. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, who oversees U.S. military interests in the region as head of U.S. Southern Command, also said Hezbollah was linked to drug-trafficking in Colombia. "We have seen... an increase in a wide level of activity by the Iranian government in this...

The United States is stepping up scrutiny of Iranian security and military personnel in the Lebanese communities of Latin America, even as its proxy, Hezbollah, gains new momentum and strength there, U.S. officials said. Part of Hezbollah's alarming expansion is being fueled by narco-dollars coming from Latin American drug cartels, and American concern stems from the possibility that al-Qaida and Hezbollah, both of which have contacts with wealthy and powerful Latin American drug...