IRANIAN GOALS AND ACTIVITIES IN LATIN AMERICA
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP90T00114R000700820001-1
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
T
Document Page Count:
7
Document Creation Date:
December 27, 2016
Document Release Date:
April 10, 2012
Sequence Number:
1
Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 18, 1987
Content Type:
MEMO
File:
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CIA-RDP90T00114R000700820001-1.pdf | 177.42 KB |
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~ ~
Central Intelligence Agency
18 December 1987
Iranian Goals and Activities in Latin America
Summary
Iran is cultivating ties with Latin American countries in order to
develop trade, purchase arms, and improve Iran's standing in the third
world. Iran has publicized its relations with Nicaragua and Cuba to
show Tehran's solidarity with leading anti-US regimes. Over the long
run, Iran's major interests in Latin America probably lie with Brazil and
Argentina, which have the potential to become major trade partners.
Although Iran has been unsuccessful so faz in acquiring arms in Latin
America, Tehran continues to send arms delegations to the restion.
The Khomeini regime appears to be making only small-scale
efforts to export its revolutionary ideas to Latin American Muslim
communities.
~ we have seen no direct
evidence that Iran is planning terrorism against US interests in Latin
This memorandum was prepared by~~Persian Gulf Division, Office of Neaz Eastern and
South Asian Analysis. Questions and queries arc welcome and may be directed to the Chief, Persian Gulf
Copy ~ of ~y
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Nicaragua and Cuba: Solidarity Against the
United States
Tehran has given Nicaragua and (:uba
strong rhetorical support since the Islamic
Revolution in 1979, stressing their shared anti-
US attitudes, but ties have been limited. Visits
by high level Iranian officials--such as Foreign
Minister Velayati's trip to Navana and Managua
in October 1987--have been lazgely symbolic,
intended to demonstrate that Tehran is not
politically isolated.
has become Iran's major third world food
supplier, providing Iran over one million metric
tons of grain annually. Brazil sells Iran
manufactured goods, valued in 1986 at about
$ 180 million, and imports oil from Iran in barter
for part of that amount. Argentina also is
participating in an international consortium of
companies that have agreed to finish
construction of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power
plant.
~oth Cuba
and Nicaragua have resisted Iranian efforts to
gain their support for Iran's position in its war
with Iraq, preferring to remain neutral. Cuban
offers to act as a mediator in the war have
irritated Iranian leaders.
Iran's trade with both countries remains
small. In 1983 and 1984 Iran supplied Managua
with two million barrels of oil as part of a $57
million credit arrangement that allowed
Nicazagua two yeazs to pay. Managua
appazently has not repayed the loan, and
economic discussions this year about oil-barter
anangments have not home fruit. Iran and
Cuba signed an economic memorandum of
understanding eazlier this yeaz, but it was mainly
window-dressin .
There is no evidence Iran is participating
with either Cuba or Nicaragua in subversive
activit in Latin America. ~
Looking for Weapons
Iran's efforts to acquire arms from I ,atin
American countries have had little success.
Argentina sold Iran about $30 million worth of
artillery ammunition in 1987, but dropped a plan
to sell Iran two destroyers in 1984 because of US
pressure. Brazil has rebuffed Iranian efforts to
conclude a major arms purchase because the
Brazilians are afraid to jeopardize their strong
trade in arms and oil with Iraq, one Iranian arms
deal literally blew up in Iran's face when 500
cluster bombs purchased from Chile in 1986
proved to be defective and exploded during tests.
Argentina and Brazil: Trade Partners
Iran has developed important trade
relations with Argentina and Brazil. Argentina
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Exporting the Revolution
Iran apparently is making only limited
efforts to build contacts and proselytize among
Muslim communities in Latin America. The
following examples are representative of the
small-scale and sporadic nature of Iranian
activity:
-- Guyana. Some pro-Iranian Shias
here receive Islamic literature
and possibly limited funding
from Iran. Some of the
groups' members have gone to
Iran for religious and
pazamilitary training.
-- Colombia. Iran has close
contacts with the Shia
community in Maicao, which
consists lazgel of wealth
merchants.
Brazil. Iran and Libya were
planning to hold an Islamic
Conference there in November
to bring together Shia and
Sunni religious officials in the
region. Brazilian officials
warned Iran that Brazil would
not tolerate political activities
against countries--such as Iraq
and Saudi Arabia--with which
it maintains good relations and
were assured that the
conference would only deal
with religious matters.
Iranian ties to Cuba and Nicazagua
provide a relatively cheap way for "Tehran to
enhance its standing in the developing countries,
garner support in the United Nations and cause
trouble for the United States. Tehran may still
harbour hopes of establishing a formal anti-i1S
coalition that would cooperate in international
institutions. The Khomeini regime is unlikely to
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expand ties with Havana and Managua much
beyond what they are now, however, because of
the limited potential for economic cooperation
and the incompatibility between secular
Marxism and Islam.
Over the long term Brazil and Argentina
are more important for Iran because of their
status as major third world, nonaligned regimes
and because of the potential for expanded trade
between them and Tehran. Both countries see
Iran as a lucrative economic market over the
long term.
Iran probably hopes that
economic problems in Brazil and Argentina will
lead them to increase arms sales to Iran, or at
least turn a blind eye to sales by their weapons
manufacturers.
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Guyana 120,000 (9% of population) mainly Sunni
Muslims of
East Indian
origin
Trinidad/Tobago
Venezuela
Colombia
100,000 (23% of population, mainly Sunni
highest percentage in Muslims of
Western Hemisphere) East Indian
and Javanese
origin
100,000 (8% of population)
mainly Sunni
Muslims of
East Indian
and African
origin
50,000 (under 1 % of recent Arab
population) immigrants
small community in Shia of
Maicao Lebanese
origin
Brazil & very small communities,
Argentina exact size unknown
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