Iranian business attache Hojjatollah Soltani said his country planned to use Bolivia as a base for future Red Crescent medical programmes across the continent.

This was preceded by a line of credit Iran extended to Bolivia for another $287 million as development aid, in particular for mineral exploration and the textile industry.

[3] During another visit to Iran in 2010, together with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad he said there was a need to "strengthen the resistance front formed by independent and freedom-seeking nations to fight against imperialism and global hegemony.

"[5] Iranian Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi visited Bolivia at the behest of his Bolivian counterpart Maria Cecilia Chacon.

After attending a military ceremony he said that "Latin America is no longer the US' backyard and Iran will enhance its constructive relations with the regional countries."