“Iran’s Ahmadinejad has had a receptive audience in Chavez who has been willing to work hand-in-hand with Tehran on everything from joint banking schemes, to oil and gas ventures, to military and security agreements, to technological partnerships.

“Chavez is reportedly selling uranium to the Iranian regime for use in Iran’s nuclear program.  Iran’s Banco Internacional de Desarrollo, sanctioned by the U.S. for aiding Iranian agencies involved in Iran’s nuclear proliferation, is also conducting business in Venezuela.

“In April of this year, Iran and Venezuela signed a defense pact in which Iran pledged to promote Venezuela’s defense capabilities.

“Lest we forget, though, Chavez is merely following the model first set-up by the Cuban dictatorship which has a joint bio-technology venture with the Iranian regime—a regime with a reported bioweapons program.

“News reports this week state that Ecuador’s Rafael Correa has agreed to host a branch of Iran’s Export Development Bank. Nicaragua now has an Iranian diplomatic mission in Managua.  U.S. intelligence officials emphasize that Iran uses its embassies to smuggle in weapons and to develop and execute its deadly plans.

“This growing axis brings the Iranian threat closer to the U.S. and directly undermines our critical security interests.  Where is the sense of urgency from U.S. officials in countering this threat?”

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