Nicaragua could be added to U.S. terror-sponsor list

The recent visit of Iranian Vice-President of Economic Affairs Mohsen Rezai, who is wanted for the bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association in 1994, could turn Nicaragua into a country that promotes terrorism, according to analysts Douglas Farrah and Jason Poblete. 

"In fact, [Nicaragua] is a state that protects terrorism," Farah said in an interview with Gaceta de la Iberosfera.

Recent actions of Daniel Ortega's regime, such as its support of Rezai's visit, reestablishing diplomatic relations with China, and engaging with Russia, may conceal other types of activities, claimed the experts.

In 2019, the Sandinista regime approved visa-free travel for Iranian citizens as part of a trade agreement between the two countries. However, military sources claim that this move has allowed the uncontrolled entry of flights from Iran into Nicaragua.

In response to these measures, former U.S. Congressional advisor and attorney Jason Poblete warned that Ortega's ties with Iran pose a threat to the U.S. and Latin America.

"Those kinds of ties with any official of a terrorist government in the hemisphere… is a threat and a danger to the United States," said Poblete.

"What we have seen is that when there is pressure, especially economic pressure, they begin to activate all the dormant cells. They are groups closely linked to Hezbollah, drug trafficking, organized crime, and if necessary, at some point they could become military cells," added Douglas Farrah.

A state that sponsors terrorism is any country that has “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism,” according to the U.S. Department of State. 

The State Department lists Iran as the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. Since 1979, the Islamic Republic has established a state policy to direct, facilitate, and actively carry out terrorist activities worldwide based on its own military and intelligence apparatus.

Rezai, for example, was a former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at the time of the 1994 AMIA bombing, which killed 85 people.