Obama signs law against Iran's influence in Latin America
President Barack Obama enacted a law Friday to counter Iran's alleged
influence in Latin America, through a new diplomatic and political strategy to
be designed by the State Department.
The Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act, passed by lawmakers
earlier this year, calls for the State Department to develop a strategy within
180 days to "address Iran's growing hostile presence and activity" in the
region.
Although the strategy is confidential and only accessible to lawmakers, it
must contain a public summary.
The text also calls on the Department of Homeland Security to bolster
surveillance at US borders with Canada and Mexico to "prevent operatives from
Iran, the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps), its Quds Force, Hezbollah or
any other terrorist organization from entering the Untied States."
And within Latin American countries, the text provides for a multiagency
action plan to provide security in those countries, along with a
"counterterrorism and counter-radicalization plan" to isolate Iran and its
allies.
