Obama Signs ‘Countering Iran In Western Hemisphere Act’ Into Law


US President Barack Obama

Obama signs law against Iran-LatAm relations (PressTV, Dec 29, 2012):

US President Barack Obama has enacted a legislation aimed at countering Iran’s growing relations with the Latin American countries.

The “Countering Iran in Western Hemisphere Act” which was signed into law on Friday, requires the State Department to develop a strategy within 180 days to “address Iran’s growing hostile presence and activity” in Latin America.

The law also incorporates a multiagency action plan in the Latin American countries in an attempt to isolate the Islamic Republic and its allies.

The US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs subcommittee on terrorism had endorsed the legislation earlier in March.

Iran has increased the number of its embassies in Latin America from five in 2005 to 11 in 2012.

The Islamic Republic has been seeking to expand relations with Latin American countries over the past few years, describing the endeavor as one of its major foreign policy strategies.

Major Latin American nations have also enhanced their diplomatic and trade ties with Iran in recent years while their relations with the United States have been downgraded amid popular demands for an end to dependence on Washington.

Iran’s rising popularity in Latin America has raised major concerns in Washington, which regards the region as its strategic backyard and traditional sphere of influence.

On January 6, the US warned Latin American states against expanding diplomatic and business ties with Iran, expressing concern over “Iran’s outreach to the Western Hemisphere.”

2 thoughts on “Obama Signs ‘Countering Iran In Western Hemisphere Act’ Into Law”

  1. You cannot pass national laws to affect the world. South America has been building a growing relationship with Iran for several years, and no law passed by the USA will change a thing. 40% of world GDP contributors (many in South America) no longer use the US dollar in international trade…..by this time next year, it will be closer to 60%. WE are losing our edge, and all the laws in the world won’t change it. Iran has been trading with many nations using their currencies, making any conversion to a different currency unnecessary. Electronic currency, as originally developed by the South American trade alliance in June of 2010, made the entire concept of a reserve currency obsolete, the electronic currency translates the value of all currencies it uses. Russia, China, India, Japan, Turkey, and many emerging African nations no longer use the dollar at all.
    We cannot change that. What a waste of time. Our leaders don’t seem to get it, we are now a power of day before yesterday.

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