LA PAZ, Bolivia — Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday during a visit to Bolivia that his country opposes an impending deal to expand the U.S. military’s presence in Colombia.
Manouchehr Mottaki is on a tour of Latin America, where Tehran has cultivated closer ties, especially with leftist-led nations pushing for more distance from U.S. policies.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is against foreign military bases anywhere in the world,” he said.
Colombian officials say the proposed 10-year lease would give U.S. forces access to at least seven military bases to boost anti-drug efforts.
Bogota says the deal would not push the number of American troops and civilian military contractors beyond 1,400, the most allowed by U.S. law.
But the plan has drawn opposition from a number of leaders nervous about a greater U.S. presence in the region.
