"In the area of mineral exploration there is speculation that Venezuela
could be mining uranium for Iran," Morgenthau said.
In return, Caracas has sought Iran's help to make Venezuela a nuclear
power in South America. In 2008, Iran opened a subsidiary of the state-owned
Export Development Bank of Iran in Caracas, which months later came under
U.S. sanctions. The Iranian bank in Caracas was deemed as having funneled
money to Iran's nuclear program.
"Iran and Venezuela are beyond the courting phase," Morgenthau said. "We
know they are creating a cozy financial, political, and military
partnership, and that both countries have strong ties to Hizbullah and
Hamas. Now is the time for policies and actions in order to ensure that the
partnership produces no poisonous fruit."
Iran and Venezuela have signed a series of cooperation agreements,
including in the areas of defense, energy, finance and joint technology
development. In April 2008, Venezuela and Iran signed a memorandum of
understanding that stipulated full military support and cooperation.
Since at least 2006, Iranian military advisers have been embedded with
Venezuelan Army and were establishing weapons factories in remote areas of
the country. Two years later, Turkey detained an Iranian ship bound for
Venezuela that contained laboratory equipment capable of producing
explosives.
"The lack of infrastructure [in Venezuela] is offset by what experts
believe to be ideal geographic locations for the illicit production of
weapons," Morgenthau said. "The mysterious manufacturing plants, controlled
by Iran, deep in the interior of Venezuela, give even greater concern."
