"Iran's powerful presence in Latin America is aimed at diminishing the US's influence in this region and we witness that the countries of this region welcome Iran's presence (in Latin America) since they are also in pursuit of the same goal," Shaterzadeh Yazdi said, addressing Iranian students at the Ferdowsi University in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

He also reiterated that Latin America is today like a battlefield for Iran's confrontation with the arrogant powers where both sides are struggling to reinvigorate their presence.

Iran has in recent years expanded its friendly ties with Latin American states, specially in economic, trade and industrial fields.

Reminding Iran's concerted and intense efforts to widen economic ties and cooperation with Latin American countries, Shaterzadeh Yazdi said that Iran, in addition to its huge investments in Brazil, has also invested $22bln in Venezuela and $700bln in Cuba to launch different projects.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced in a report in December 2009 that Brazil is the largest trade partner of Iran among the Latin American countries.

Also the new data showed that Iran's trade with Latin America tripled to $2.9bln in 2008.

The report gave Brazil as the largest trade partner of Iran in Latin America with a turn-around of about $1.3bln in 2008.

Since taking office in 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has expanded Iran's cooperation with many Latin American states, including Venezuela and Cuba.

President Ahmadinejad went on a five-day visit to five African and South American countries including Brazil late 2009.

The report also said Iran's trade with Latin America has experienced a 240.2 percent increase in 2008 from 2007.

Iranian exports to South American states jumped by 85.2 percent to $337.6mln in the same period.

The IMF said Argentina increased its exports to Iran from $29mln in 2007 to $1.2bln in 2008 becoming Iran's second largest trade partner in Latin America.

Meantime, total trade between Iran and Venezuela reached $51.8mln in 2008, showing a 30.8 percent increase.                        

منبع:  fars News