The Correa-Khamenei Axis

Ecuador pumping up its relationship with Iran and Syria, experts say
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa / AP

American national security officials are not adequately addressing the deepening ties between socialist Latin American regimes and state sponsors of terrorism in the Middle East, experts say.

The Iran, Hezbollah, Venezuela Axis

Iran laundering billions through Venezuela, former senior official says
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Nicolas Maduro / AP

Iran has illegally laundered billions of dollars through the Venezuelan financial sector and is currently stashing “hundreds of millions” of dollars in “virtually every Venezuelan bank today,” according to a former senior State Department official.

After Death of Chavez, Iran-Venezuela Alliance in Doubt

Fate of Iran, Hezbollah in Chavez-free Venezuela uncertain, expert says
AP

The death of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez could spark an intense internal battle between socialist leaders and terrorist Muslim forces such as Hezbollah, which long served as an ally to Chavez, according to foreign policy experts.