U.S. Officials: Iran Trying to Enhance Latin American Activities with Hizbullah Support

Iran has dramatically expanded its diplomatic missions throughout Latin America and dispatched members of its elite Quds Force to serve in its embassies “to carry out covert activities” with the assistance of Hizbullah, U.S. officials have said.

The Washington Post quoted former U.S. intelligence officials as saying that “the presence of Quds Force officers and other military personnel in diplomatic missions enhances Iran’s ability to carry out covert activities, sometimes in conjunction with members of the Iran-backed Hizbullah militant group that operates extensive networks in Latin America and maintains ties with drug cartels.”

U.S. officials say the Quds Force was behind the alleged plot to hire Mexican drug gangs to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington.

“For Iran to be so active in Venezuela and for the Quds Force to be there can only suggest Iran is serious about asymmetrical force projection into our neck of the woods,” said Art Keller, a former case officer with the CIA’s counter-proliferation division.

“If Israel bombs Iran, we may well see retaliatory strikes aimed at U.S. interests coming from these Quds Force guys in South America,” he told The Post.