Sponsors (8)
The bill strengthens U.S. tools and coordination to counter Iran/Hezbollah influence and disrupt their networks in Latin America, but it raises risks to press freedom, educational and cultural exchanges, and relations with civil society and partner governments.
State and local governments and U.S. diplomats will get a coordinated 180-day plan to counter Iran/Hezbollah influence in Latin America, improving national security coordination and quicker, unified responses.
Taxpayers and federal agencies gain expanded tools (sanctions, designations, partner cooperation) to disrupt financial and travel channels used by malign actors, potentially reducing funding and mobility for those networks.
Spanish-speaking communities, local governments, and students could see reduced hostile disinformation if the bill targets specific propaganda outlets, improving the local information environment.
Journalists, media outlets, and the public may face free-speech and press-freedom concerns because sanctions or designations of media outlets could be seen as censorship and provoke diplomatic backlash from Latin American partners.
Students, researchers, cultural organizations, and state/local governments could lose academic, cultural, and NGO exchange opportunities with Latin America and Iran if travel restrictions or sanctions on cultural centers are imposed, harming education and research collaboration.
Nonprofits, universities, and partner-country civil society risk strained relationships and sovereignty/privacy disputes because expanded intelligence operations and close monitoring could be perceived as intrusive.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the State Department to produce a 180‑day strategy to counter Iran/Hezbollah propaganda, networks, and influence operations in Latin America and recommend diplomatic, sanctions, intelligence, and designation options.
Official title: To require a strategy to counter Iranian and Hezbollah influence operations in Latin America.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Jefferson Shreve · Last progress July 17, 2025
Requires the Secretary of State to produce a written, unclassified strategy (with an optional classified annex) within 180 days to counter Iran’s and Hezbollah’s propaganda, missionary networks, and influence operations in Latin America. The plan must recommend diplomatic, visa/sanctions, intelligence, public diplomacy, media-targeting, and potential designation steps to limit Iranian cultural centers, restrict emissary activity, disrupt Persian/Spanish-language outlets, and address Al Mustafa International University and affiliates. The strategy must propose concrete measures — including diplomacy, sanctions, travel restrictions, expanded intelligence/cooperation with Latin American partners, and possible terrorist-designation actions — and be delivered to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees.