Ayatollahs in the Backyard

At a time when he is under pressure domestically and around the world, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Latin America – highlighted by a stop in Brazil – provided him an important boost. Iran has been involved with some ideologically-sympathetic countries in the region like Ecuador, providing loans for infrastructure. On the other hand, other countries, such as Mexico or Colombia, have turned a cold shoulder to the Islamic Republic. Thus the reception by a country of Brazil’s stature was a surprise. The visit drew criticism in Brazil and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva could be going too far in his desire to raise Brazil’s international profile. But a Brazil more engaged with the problems of the world is better than not and the Iranian-Brazilian relationship could open a channel for the United States to communicate with Tehran. −YaleGlobal