Iranian nationals bearing falsified passports, allegedly linked to Venezuela, have begun appearing in Colombia in significant numbers in recent weeks, triggering alarm among Latin American security officials and Western diplomats over Tehran's expanding influence in the region.

The development coincides with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's contentious re-election celebrations on January 10, where Iranian flag-bearers featured prominently in state television coverage among Chavista supporters. Maduro paused his victory speech to acknowledge Iran, in what analysts view as a calculated display of deepening bilateral ties. He can be heard shouting “Long live the Islamic Republic of Iran,” bizarrely lumping it together with "Burkina Faso and Africa" in a geographical blunder broadcast live on state media.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, publicly endorsed Maduro's presidency, pledging enhanced bilateral cooperation and expressing solidarity against what he termed "evil interventions and unilateral and illegal US sanctions."

This aligns Iran with Russia, Cuba and Nicaragua, the main backers of Maduro globally, just as the Caracas regime finds itself increasingly isolated on the international stage in the wake of last July’s election, which the West and most Latin American countries consider marred by widespread fraud.

The return of Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman with close ties to the Maduro administration released from the US in December 2023 in a prisoner exchange, has accelerated cooperation between Caracas and Tehran. Saab, who currently serves as Minister of Industry, has emerged as a central figure in consolidating economic and strategic ties between the two nations.

Colombian migration authorities have detected a pattern of Iranian citizens attempting to transit through the country using counterfeit Greek documentation, probably aiming to exploit the country's extensive air links. In a notable case at Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport reported by El Tiempo, officials intercepted three Iranian nationals bound for Cancún, Mexico, carrying sophisticated forged papers.

The outlet also cited the case of an Iranian woman coming from Venezuela, reportedly detained and returned to the border after attempting to board a flight to Nicaragua – another country with strong ties to Caracas and Tehran – with a fake passport.

Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the forgeries as "highly professional," suggesting state-level involvement. Two similar incidents in the border city of Cúcuta point to what regional intelligence officials believe is a coordinated operation.

The Iranian presence appears to extend beyond migration. Defence analysts report that Venezuela and Iran have established a substantial military-technical partnership, including a joint drone development programme at the El Libertador airbase. According to Infobae, the facility produces surveillance and combat unmanned aerial vehicles, notably the ANSU-100 and ZAMORA V-1 models.

Perhaps more concerning for Western security officials is evidence of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah establishing operational centres in Venezuelan territory.

“In Venezuela, Hezbollah’s support network operates through compartmentalised, familial clan structures that embed into the Maduro regime-controlled illicit economy and the regime’s political apparatus and bureaucracy. Many of the clans are assimilated within the Venezuelan state and society through the robust Lebanese and Syrian communities that extend to neighbouring Colombia,” said foreign policy expert Joseph M. Humire in a 2020 research paper.

Intelligence reports indicate that Venezuelan nationals are receiving initial training locally before advancing to specialised combat instruction in Iran.

The economic dimension of the partnership has also drawn scrutiny. Mahan Air, an Iranian carrier under US and EU sanctions, operates regular flights between the two “pariah” countries. Banking officials familiar with the matter say these flights facilitate a gold-for-oil exchange mechanism that helps both nations circumvent international sanctions.

Last November, Iran and Venezuela inked 289 bilateral agreements spanning multiple sectors, with deals covering areas including science, technology, industry and agriculture, reflecting deepening ties between the two oil-rich nations since the era of former President Hugo Chávez.

Iran's ambassador to Caracas, Hojat Soltani, has reportedly overseen an intensification of bilateral cooperation across technology, defence, and energy sectors. Similarly, former Oil Minister Tarek El Aissami has been accused of facilitating the infiltration of Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard into Venezuela, alleging involvement in illicit activities such as drug trafficking and arms trade. He was arrested last April by Venezuelan authorities in connection with a corruption investigation and accused of "treason," following nearly a year of evading capture after his resignation.

The strengthening Caracas-Tehran relationship, which adds a trans-continental layer to the “axis of evil,” presents a complex challenge for regional security services and Western policymakers seeking to maintain stability in Latin America amid growing Russian and, especially, Chinese influence.