What's happened
The US is pressuring Bolivia to designate Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist groups, amid broader efforts to curb Iran's influence in Latin America. This follows recent US actions against Venezuela and a regional push by Washington to weaken Iran-backed groups across the continent.
What's behind the headline?
The US's intensified push to designate Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations in Latin America reveals a strategic effort to weaken Iran's regional influence. By targeting Bolivia, a country historically sympathetic to Iran, Washington aims to disrupt Iran's regional network, which US officials describe as using permissive jurisdictions as hubs for projecting influence into higher-value states. This move aligns with broader regional actions, such as Ecuador and Argentina designating Iran-backed groups as terrorists. However, the effectiveness of these measures depends on local governments' willingness to cooperate, as some, like Panama, have yet to engage. The US's focus on Bolivia underscores its recognition of the country's central geographic position and historically permissive political environment, which Iran has exploited. The recent election of a centrist government in Bolivia offers a window for US influence, but the long-term impact hinges on Bolivia's political trajectory and regional stability. The broader regional campaign signals a sustained US effort to counter Iran's influence, but success will require diplomatic finesse and local buy-in, especially in countries with complex political histories and varying degrees of US alignment.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel highlights the US's diplomatic efforts to designate Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist groups in Bolivia, emphasizing the strategic importance of the country in Iran's Latin American operations. Reuters notes the broader US regional campaign, including recent terrorist designations by Ecuador and Argentina, and the ongoing diplomatic discussions with Bolivia, Chile, Peru, and Panama. The New York Times provides context on US actions against Venezuela, including the capture of Nicolas Maduro, framing it as part of a wider effort to curb Iran-backed influence in the hemisphere. While the Times underscores the US's focus on Venezuela's longstanding ties with Iran and Hezbollah, Reuters emphasizes the regional escalation and US diplomatic maneuvers, and the NYT offers insight into the US's broader geopolitical strategy, including recent high-profile operations. These sources collectively illustrate a coordinated US effort to weaken Iran's regional network through diplomatic pressure, designations, and strategic influence in Latin America.
How we got here
US officials have long viewed Latin America as a strategic region for Iran's diplomatic and intelligence operations, especially in Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua. Recent US efforts aim to diminish Iran's regional footprint, with Bolivia now seen as a key node due to its permissive political climate and central location. Historically, Bolivia's leftist governments under Evo Morales and Luis Arce fostered close ties with Iran, viewing it as part of a broader anti-US stance. The recent election of centrist Rodrigo Paz signals a shift towards repairing relations with Washington, prompting US initiatives to target Iran-backed groups more aggressively.
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Common question
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Why Is the US Targeting Iran-Backed Groups in Latin America?
The United States has recently intensified efforts to curb Iran's influence across Latin America by targeting groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. This raises questions about US foreign policy, regional stability, and the significance of designating these groups as terrorists. Below, we explore the reasons behind these actions and what they mean for the region and beyond.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez (born 18 May 1969) is a Venezuelan lawyer, diplomat, and politician who has served as the acting president of Venezuela since 3 January 2026, after the United States captured and de facto removed President Nicolás Maduro f
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Luis Alberto Arce Catacora is a Bolivian politician who served as the Minister of Economy and Public Finance under President Evo Morales. He is the presidential candidate of MAS-IPSP in the 2020 Bolivian general election.
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Nicolás Maduro Moros is a Venezuelan politician serving as president of Venezuela since 2013. His presidency has been disputed by Juan Guaidó since January 2019, although Maduro is the real president.
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Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many small islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in western-central South America. The constitutional capital is Sucre, while the seat of government and executive capital is La Paz.