US, Brazil Discuss Iran's 'Destabilizing' Activities in Latin America

The Biden administration's acting special envoy for Iran says he has discussed Tehran's "destabilizing" activities in South America during a visit to Brazil.

In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Abram Paley said he's returned from Brazil where he had "constructive meetings with officials on our concerns about the destabilizing activities of Iran and its proxies in the region, sanctions enforcement, CT cooperation and our shared nonproliferation goals."

The Islamic Republic’s activities in the Americas have stirred concerns especially after its warships docked in Brazil last year, making Iran’s presence a little too close for comfort to the Biden administration.

With Brazil refusing to join the US in sanctioning Iran, dating back to 2010, options are running out as to how one of the world’s biggest powers, can fight the threat of Iran looming closer to its shores with a lack of legal mechanisms in place.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government was urged by the Biden administration to send the Iranian warships -- IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena -- away in January 2023, but it finally bowed to Tehran, allowing them to dock in February.

The presence of the Islamic Republic in Latin America has been a growing concern for the US in recent years with several Congressional reports presented in different Senate and House committees detailing Iran’s influence in the region.