Starting on June 11th, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will begin a tour of Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba aimed at strengthening relations with these three Latin American countries in the economic, political , and scientific fields.
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| Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks at the launch of a new ballistic missile in Tehran, Iran, on June 6, 2023. (West Asia News Agency) |
This is Mr. Raisi's first visit to Latin America since taking office as President in August 2021.
Previously, President Raisi focused his visits on neighboring countries to strengthen Tehran's network of partners in the Middle East. Therefore, the upcoming trip will be an opportunity for Iran to expand the depth of its alliances in Latin America, specifically by strengthening relations with Venezuela , Nicaragua, and Cuba.
Regarding relations between Tehran and Caracas, the two countries have become trusted and increasingly close partners since the time of the late President Hugo Chávez (1999-2013). During the recent period of President Nicolás Maduro's rule, Iran has been seen as an indispensable ally of Venezuela in the implementation of its foreign policy strategy.
When Venezuela faced a fuel crisis in 2020, Iran promptly supplied fuel to Caracas. The two sides also regularly exchange high-level delegations, notably President Maduro's official visit to Tehran in May 2022, where he was received by his counterpart Raisi and Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In addition, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, one of Iran's key allies in Latin America, has expressed approval of Tehran's uranium enrichment program and called on Israel to "disarm" in order to minimize the risk of conflict.
During Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's visit to Nicaragua last February, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and consultations in Managua.
In recent times, political relations between Iran and Cuba have also become closer. During Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas's visit to Iran last year, Tehran and Havana agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of technology and food security.
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