Latin America is no longer America’s backyard: Iran's defense minister

TEHRAN, June 6 (MNA) – Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, who has recently returned home from a visit to Bolivia, says the Unites States’ influence over the Latin America has waned.

“The Latin America is no longer the U.S. backyard, and Iran will continue expanding its constructive relations with this region’s countries, especially the countries of the ALBA alliance,” Vahidi told reporters on arrival in Tehran on Thursday morning.

The Bolivarian Alliance of the People of Our America (ALBA) is an international cooperation organization based on the idea of social, political, and economic integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are the members of ALBA.

The Iranian official also criticized the arrogant powers for putting pressure on the independent nations, saying “Trying to take hostage these countries’ foreign policy is an inefficient measure and is doomed to failure.”

Commenting on Tehran-La Paz relations, Vahidi said that the two countries’ relationship is strong and both sides are determined to further enhance their bilateral ties.

He added that the expansion of ties with the Latin American countries is one of the Iranian government’s foreign policy priorities.

On certain foreign media outlets’ commotion about his trip to Bolivia, the defense minister said, “The trip was made on schedule at the formal invitation of Bolivian Defense Minister Maria Cecilia Chacon and was completed successfully.”

He said that the Israeli lobby has instigated the allegations, describing the claims as “baseless” and “worthless.”