U.S.: No Military of Iran in Venezuela

a high-ranking United States Army (USA) dismissed the Pentagon report on the role of Iran's elite forces in Venezuela.

U.S. Southern Command Commander, Gen. Douglas Fraser, Tuesday (04/27/2010) says Iran's activities in Venezuela is only related with trade affairs and diplomacy, not military.

Statement of General Fraser was contrary to the contents of the Pentagon report sent to Congress early last April.

In that report, the Pentagon said the elite Revolutionary Guards Qods force Iran showed an increased presence in the region of Latin America, especially Venezuela. The Pentagon claims was firmly rejected President Chavez.

In explanation of his press conference, told reporters in Washington, Gen. Douglas Fraser, who headed the U.S. Southern Command in charge of watching most of Latin America, said no Iranian military presence in Venezuela.

"We are seeing increased interest and involvement of Iran in Venezuela. That's diplomatic and business presence. I see no evidence of military presence (there)," he said.

Asked if he rejected the Pentagon report and statement of U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency director before, Fraser said he did not see it as a "contradiction".

"I did see an increased Iranian presence in Latin America. I do not have detailed explanations of what is meant by that," he said.

Previously, the U.S. accused the elite Qods force supporting the guerrillas in Iraq and Lebanon. The U.S. also accused the Qods military exploit his country's diplomacy and influence the upcoming Iranian ambassador in Iraq as an officer Qods.

President Chavez who had been a harsh critic of U.S. in Latin America, Monday, rejected the Pentagon report about the Iranian military presence.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates in early April and then confirmed that Venezuela is not a threat for the U.S. military. "I also do not see any potential for conflict," he said during a trip to South America beginning in April.