The hardline president of Iran met with his Nicaraguan counterpart during his maiden trip to Latin America and lashed out at a shared enemy of both men: U.S. sanctions.
Nicaragua is President Ebrahim Raisi’s second stop after Venezuela. He also has plans to travel to Cuba, another regional supporter of Iran.
Raisi and Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, appeared together in Managua.
“The United States wanted to paralyze our people with threats and sanctions, but it hasn’t been able to do it,” Raisi claimed.
In addition, many prominent officials in Ortega’s administration are subject to U.S. sanctions for quashing criticism and imprisoning or expelling critics.
Raisi paid a visit to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday. Venezuela is also the target of U.S. economic sanctions.
His tour of Latin American allies coincides with escalating hostilities with President Joe Biden’s administration.
As the Kremlin works to assure a regular supply of weapons for its invasion of Ukraine, the United States has accused Iran of giving Russia the materials it needs to create a drone manufacturing facility east of Moscow. Despite Iran’s claim that it sent Russia drones before to the start of the war, U.S. intelligence officials believe the Russian plant might begin operating early the next year.
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