WASHINGTON (AFP) – Iran is expanding its diplomatic and economic ties with Venezuela but has no military presence in the South American country, a U.S. general said on Tuesday.

The general’s comments came after a Pentagon report last week said Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps had stepped up its presence in Latin America, especially in Venezuela.
However, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has denied allegations from the Pentagon, calling the report “absolutely false”.
The head of U.S. Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser, said Iran was bolstering its relations with Venezuela.
“We see a growing Iranian engagement with Venezuela,” Fraser told reporters.
Iran has a “diplomatic, commercial presence” but “I haven’t seen any evidence of a military presence,” he stated.
There was no indication that Iran had sent arms to Venezuela, he added.