The United States is responding to threats of war from Iran’s regime after they deployed two military ships to Brazil and Panama and declared they are establishing a military presence in Latin and South America. The Iranian news outlet Tehran Times reported Saturday that “Iran’s 86th flotilla warships is now sailing along the western shores of Latin America, the Navy second-in-command said.” A U.S. State Department responded in words to Fox News, “We are aware of these claims by Iran’s navy. We continue to monitor Iran’s attempts to have a military presence in the Western Hemisphere.”
The Iranian Move
Sen. Marco Rubio released a statement responding to the Iranian ship movement, “Iran’s growing presence in the Western Hemisphere should come as no surprise as the Biden Administration has a history of appeasement and engaging with authoritarian regimes. Tehran’s ability to expand its military presence in our hemisphere should be a warning sign, especially as it seeks to support the left-wing Marxist regimes that will undermine peace and stability throughout the region.”
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar also sated, “Iran has been aggressively strengthening its ties to the Western Hemisphere through like-minded socialist regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. They are also looking for opportunities elsewhere, and it’s no coincidence that Iranian ships are docking in Brazil just a month after a socialist retook power in the country.”
She added, “Instead of supporting the Iran-friendly socialist and left-wing regimes in Latin America, the Biden administration should be strengthening political forces committed to keeping our hemisphere free of antisemitic terror.”
The Regime of Terror
Iran’s regime officially been classified by the U.S. as the world’s worst state-sponsor of international terrorism. the commander of the Islamic Republic’s navy, Rear Adm. Shahram Irani, recently told Fars News, “We have been present in all the strategic straits of the world, and we have not been present in only two straits — in one of which we will be present this year, and we are planning to be present in the Panama Canal.”
If Iran was to cause interference in the Panama Canal it would greatly hurt U.S. trade and the global economic market. 16 percent of the world’s total shipping fleet is registered in Panama, according to deadweight tonnage.
