Archive · 24 Jan 2026
US Presses Bolivia to Expel Iranian Spies
The United States is asking Bolivia to remove people they think are Iranian spies and to label certain groups, like Hezbollah and Hamas, as terrorists.
Bolivia is in the middle of South America and has been a place where Iran has been active.
The U.S. wants to stop Iran from having too much influence in the area.
Bolivia's new president, Rodrigo Paz, is trying to improve relations with the U.S. The U.S. is also encouraging other countries in Latin America to take similar steps against these groups.
There is some debate about how active these groups really are in the region.
The U.S. is urging Bolivia to expel suspected Iranian spies and designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah, and Hamas as terrorist organizations.
Bolivia's central location and permissive environment have made it a hub for Iran's intelligence operations in Latin America.
The U.S. sees an opportunity to influence Bolivia's policies under the new centrist president, Rodrigo Paz, who is seeking to repair ties with Washington.
The U.S. has been advocating for similar terrorist designations in other Latin American countries, with Ecuador and Argentina recently complying.
There is debate within the U.S. intelligence community about the extent and organization of Hezbollah's activities in Latin America.
- Who
- The United States and Bolivia
- What
- The U.S. is pushing Bolivia to expel suspected Iranian spies and designate certain groups as terrorist organizations
- When
- The push is ongoing, with recent discussions in January
- Where
- Bolivia, Latin America
- Why
- To deepen U.S. geopolitical influence and counter Iranian activities in the region
- Country Involved
- Bolivia
- Suspected Spies
- Iranian
- Groups to be Designated
- Hezbollah, Hamas, IRGC
- U.S. Agency Involved
- Millennium Challenge Corporation
- Bolivian President
- Rodrigo Paz
- Recent High-Profile IRGC Operation
- Assassination plot targeting Israeli ambassador to Mexico
- U.S. Officials' View on Hezbollah
- Debated presence and activities in Latin America
- Bolivia's Population
- 12 million