President Obama on Tuesday downplayed the threat from Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez's ties to Iran, but said the administration was closely watching Tehran's efforts in Latin America.
“We're always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe,” Obama said in the interview. “But overall my sense is that what Mr. Chavez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us.”
The comments to Miami's América TeVe were widely disseminated on Wednesday by the Republican National Committee, which seeks to paint the commander in chief as kowtowing to repressive regimes in Latin America and unwilling to confront Iran.
Read more on The Hill's Global Affairs blog.
