What Will Others Do?
By David A. HarrisJanuary 24, 2007

The Iranian president's recent visit to Venezuela, the second in less than a year, his attendance at the inauguration of Ecuador's new leader last week, where he also met with his Bolivian counterpart, and a stopover in Nicaragua, all underscore Iran's increasingly close contact with Latin America. When Iran's foreign policy is discussed, it usually involves the Middle East, but Iran's ambitions are, in fact, global. Latin America has become a focal point of Iran's interests, beginning with Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. With the exception of Cuba's ailing and unelected despot, the current leaders of these countries were elected on platforms that included heavy doses of anti-Americanism, music to Iran's ears. Iran seeks a global alliance to counter what President Ahmadinejad calls the "hegemonic system," which translates into American domination of the international system. In these five Latin American countries, he's found some like-minded friends. Of greatest concern, because of its size and its leader's proclaimed ambitions, is Venezuela. The number of Iranian-Venezuelan bilateral accords is about 130. Moreover, there are reports of clandestine cooperation in defense and intelligence. In Managua, the two leaders signed agreements for cooperation in about 25 fields. Mr. Ahmadinejad has said, "We should make our presence felt in different parts of the world to promote our values of independence and justice because there are talented people in Iran who can create jobs and invest. They would also be effective tools for the spread of Iranian culture." Promote Iranian "values" and spread "Iranian culture"? Exactly which? Nuclear weapons development? Suppression of human rights? Calls for destruction of another U.N.-member state? Holocaust denial? Support for terrorism? It sounds like the game plan for a modern-day version of the Comintern. Iran and Venezuela have one key strategic asset — oil — and they're playing it for all it's worth. After all, they are the fourth and fifth leading exporters, respectively, of oil in the world today. The high price of oil has filled the coffers of both countries, allowing the Iranians to invest heavily in their nuclear and missile programs and permitting both countries to sign major arms deals with Moscow. But their hands may not be as strong as they think. The economies of Iran and Venezuela are far shakier than their income would suggest. The recent drop in oil prices means less revenue. Money spent outside to spread Iranian "values" — as well as Mr. Chavez's proclaimed Bolivarian revolution in the region with himself at the helm — means less for domestic use. At the same time, the previous oil price shock has finally spurred major consumers, like America and China, to begin long overdue efforts to reduce dependence on imported oil. Moreover, Mr. Ahmadinejad may be in trouble at home. Last week, 150 Iranian parliamentarians signed a letter condemning his trip to Latin America. They asserted he should have been home dealing with a spiraling economic crisis that includes the increasingly successful impact of an American-led effort to cut off Iranian access to foreign credits and loans. Rumors are spreading in Iran that his days may be numbered. Iran also has made one significant Latin American enemy — Argentina. In July 1994, 85 people were killed in Buenos Aires when the headquarters of AMIA, the central Jewish organization, was destroyed in a terrorist attack, two years after the Israel Embassy was targeted. After years of failed investigations, President Kirchner appointed a special prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, who doggedly pursued the case. In October 2006, Mr. Nisman issued his long-awaited report on the 1994 bombing, confirming what had long been suspected. The plot was hatched in Tehran. Mr. Nisman named seven top-level former Iranian government officials, including a former president, and one Hezbollah operative. The report was approved by the presiding judge and submitted to Interpol, which issued arrest warrants for the eight. Mr. Kirchner and Uruguay's president, Tabare Vazquez, refused to attend the inauguration of Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, because Mr. Ahmadinejad was present. Argentina expects the support of its neighbors in moving this case forward through Interpol and in seeking to isolate Iran. Five nations already have given Argentina their answer by embracing Iran. The question is what the others will do. Even after the Nisman report, Hezbollah is not banned on Argentine soil, much less elsewhere in the region, although Buenos Aires is now discussing the matter. It is hoped that Argentina will take the lead in repudiating the terrorist group and ask others in the region to do the same. Iran has gained a foothold in the Western Hemisphere and is seeking to expand its reach. We and our regional friends must seek to ensure that a bad situation does not become worse. Mr. Harris is executive director of the American Jewish Committee.