Iran’s presence in Venezuela is a threat to US, former top CIA official tells GSW
Iran’s growing activities in Venezuela could pose a threat to the United States, according to Rollie Flynn, chief executive of the Arkin Group and a former CIA officer.
For Flynn, the relationship between the two countries has been strong for years and remains important to both sides.
“I think that relationship is really important to them. They've had a long, friendly relationship with Iran, both in terms of, you know, sanctions busting Iranian oil and and as well as the Iranians have a very important defence relationship with Venezuela,” she said.
Flynn noted that Iran has taken on a larger military role in the country.
“In fact, there's an Iranian-built and run drone factory in Venezuela,” she said, pointing to growing cooperation between the two governments.
Iran-backed groups are also operating inside Venezuela, Flynn noted, citing the Kudz Force, Hezbollah, as well as Iranian special forces.
She argued that this activity could have direct consequences for Washington, as the issue “is very close to our homeland and having Iran have that kind of a presence in Venezuela is not helpful to us.”
US officials have long monitored ties between Tehran and Caracas, but Flynn’s comments highlight renewed concern over how Iran may be using Venezuela to expand its influence closer to American territory.
Watch the full interview:
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
