From Hamsayeh:
The Venezuelan government announced it has removed visa requirements for Iranian nationals wishing to visit the Latin American nation, yesterday. The announcement followed an agreement signed in March 2009, between the presidents of the two countries.
Venezuela is now the third Latin American country that lifts visa requirements for Iranian visitors after Nicaragua and Ecuador enacted similar measures last year.
Iran and progressive Latin American countries have expanded mutual ties in economic, political and cultural fields. However, Iran's cooperation with Latin American countries has become a major concern for Washington, which regards South America like its own backyard and a region to wield influence at will.
The US government labeled Iran and certain Latin American nations the countries that sponsor terrorism and for this reason it has introduced a self-inflicting measure to screen all visitors from those countries. Of course, one has to start with the fact that the US has lost almost all of its former attractions as a tourist destination following the Sep. 11 events. Also given the current level of violence across the United States, only the very adventurous visitors may wish to take the chance to visit the North American nation, at their own peril.
Venezuela as one of the world's largest oil and gas producers and also an important member of the Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries (OPEC) has in recent years pulled out of US sphere of influence. Venezuela is now an active constituent of the Latin American economic and political organization (ALBA) that seeks to counter US' hegemony in the region.
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