Drawing a 10-Year Road Map for Iran-Venezuela Relations

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez visited Tehran last Wednesday after attending the Arab-South American summit in Doha, Qatar. Joint projects were the main topic of discussion between Iranian officials and Chavez, who is going to visit Japan afterwards.

Commentary by Ahmad Sobhani, Latin American affairs analyst:

Certain political and economic advantages lie in Chavez’s visits to Iran. As a result of the expanding ties between Iran and Caracas during the recent years, Iran has turned into a country exporting goods and services to Latin America. The Iran-Venezuela Joint Bank was launched during Chavez’s visit and a date was set for launching a joint investment fund. Easing visa regulations was also a part of talks. In addition, Tehran and Caracas are going to design a road map of bilateral ties which will determine the decennial strategy of economic, political, cultural and social relations.

Designing this road map will definitely be a lengthy process. However, the initial steps have been taken and they were signed during Chavez’s visit. Chavez and Ahmadinejad also reviewed bilateral cooperation so far, including joint industrial and oil projects.

Seven visits in ten years

Chavez can’t be called a ’frequent visitor’. During ten years of presidency he has traveled to Iran only seven times, which gives an average of less than one visit per year, while Chavez has visited Moscow three times in one year to sign trade contracts.

During the past one and a half years the Venezuelan president has just made one 4-hour visit to Iran, while he has traveled to several countries in pursuit of trade contracts. While all countries are increasingly facing towards joint economic ventures, Chavez can’t be called a frequent visitor.

Iran’s relations with Venezuela vis-à-vis other countries

Tehran has as warm and expanding relations with Caracas as with other countries. The level of relations with neighboring countries as well as African countries demonstrates that Iran is developing international ties. Hence, once-per-year visits of Venezuelan officials shouldn’t sound strange. Up to ten years ago, Iran’s relations with South American countries were limited to import of goods, while currently Tehran has established close political, economic and cultural ties with Latin American, and Middle East, countries. Expanding relations leads to increasing visits.

Iran’s influence in Latin America and United States’ concern

United States is naturally worried about Iran’s increasing influence in Latin America since it fears warm relations South-South relations. Americans tend to control all international relations.

Iran’s active presence in America’s former political backyard has definitely caused concerns. United States is displeased with Iran’s efforts to establish close, brotherly ties with South American ties. Iran has political and economic priorities in its relations with Latin America, since politics and economy are inseparable in today’s world.