Advertisement

Document: Israel, Chile spied on Iran

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wave for media during a welcoming ceremony for Chavez in Tehran, Iran on April 2, 2009. UPI/Mohammad Kheirkhah
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez wave for media during a welcoming ceremony for Chavez in Tehran, Iran on April 2, 2009. UPI/Mohammad Kheirkhah | License Photo

JERUSALEM, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Documents released by WikiLeaks show Israel and Chile cooperated to spy on Iran as it developed its association with Venezuela.

A diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in Santiago to the State Department in Washington, dated July 21, 2008, said Chile and Israel both expressed concern about growing ties as well as a potential Iranian presence on the border with Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, Haaretz reported Monday.

Advertisement

The cable said Col. Yoeli Or, the Israeli military attache in Chile, had informed his American counterpart of Israel's activities.

Or said "that he works with Chile's Investigative Police and 'other agencies' (presumably Chile's Intelligence Agency), sharing information, and providing training when possible," the cable reported.

The diplomatic cable also reported Or had suggested Israel do more to widen its trade ties with Latin America "to help balance Iran's expanding influence in the region."

Or reportedly told the American diplomat who wrote the cable Israel was concerned about increased Iranian activities in Latin America, with more than 50 Iranians in Colombia holding diplomatic passports.

Latest Headlines