LA PAZ, Bolivia — The United States is pressing Bolivia to expel suspected Iranian intelligence operatives and to formally designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organizations, according to people familiar with the discussions cited in a Reuters report on the talks. The push reflects Washington’s broader effort to curb Iran’s influence in Latin America and test whether Bolivia’s new government is ready to tighten counterintelligence and align more closely with U.S. security priorities, Jan. 25, 2026.
Bolivia weighs U.S. demands to expel suspected Iranian operatives
Officials briefed on the conversations told Reuters that U.S. diplomats have urged Bolivia to remove individuals Washington believes are working under Iranian intelligence direction, while also asking La Paz to treat the IRGC, Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist entities under Bolivian law. The sources described the exchanges as private and sensitive, and Reuters reported Bolivia’s foreign ministry said no final decision had been made.
For Bolivia, any move would carry domestic and regional implications: expelling foreign nationals can trigger diplomatic retaliation, and terrorism designations often require a clear legal process, evidence thresholds and enforcement capacity. U.S. officials, meanwhile, argue the measures would help Bolivia disrupt financing networks and limit the operating space for groups Washington says act as proxies for Tehran.
What “terrorist designation” means in U.S. terms
In the United States, the State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations list is a central tool for restricting travel, financing and material support tied to designated groups. Reuters reported Washington is pushing for a comparable hardening in Bolivia, even though each country’s legal framework differs and Bolivia would be making its own sovereign determination.
Regional analysts note the trend line has been toward sharper scrutiny of Hezbollah-linked networks in parts of Latin America. A 2025 RAND analysis on Hezbollah’s networks in Latin America describes how enforcement pressure, sanctions and policing cooperation have shaped how countries define and pursue related cases — though it also notes persistent disputes over the scale and structure of operations in the region.
Bolivia’s pivot is being watched closely
The U.S. approach comes as Bolivia signals a broader foreign-policy reset after its political transition. In a recent development that underscored that shift, The Associated Press reported Bolivia restored diplomatic relations with Israel after a two-year break, a move the new administration framed as part of reengagement with Western partners. Reuters reported U.S. officials see the post-election moment as an opening to reduce Iran’s footprint in countries Washington views as permissive environments.
Bolivia-Iran ties: continuity and flashpoints over time
Bolivia’s relationship with Iran has a long paper trail. Reuters reported in 2007 that Iran’s president planned a Bolivia visit to deepen ties and sign deals, and followed a year later with a 2008 account of Tehran and La Paz exploring broader energy and industrial cooperation during the Evo Morales era.
More recently, Bolivia’s engagement with Middle East conflicts has also shaped perceptions abroad. In 2023, AP reported Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza — a decision that later became a reference point for critics who argue Bolivia should draw harder lines against Hamas and related militant groups.
And when Bolivia signed a security cooperation memorandum with Iran in 2023, debate flared over what it could mean in practice; Responsible Statecraft analyzed the agreement’s limited public detail and argued that outside commentary often outpaced confirmed facts.
What comes next for Bolivia
Bolivia now faces a narrow balancing act: responding to U.S. pressure without appearing to outsource national security decisions. Reuters reported the U.S. wants swift steps — expulsions and formal terrorism designations — while Bolivia’s government has indicated it is still reviewing its position. Whether Bolivia moves quickly or proceeds cautiously could shape its security cooperation, intelligence sharing and diplomatic ties across the hemisphere in the months ahead.
