Central America
President of Iran visits the National Assembly of Nicaragua
June 14 |
The President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, met Wednesday with the deputies of the National Assembly of Nicaragua, during the second day of his official visit to that Central American country, and said that the resistance of the people contributes to the current change in the world order and the decline of the United States (US).
During a speech before the Legislative, the head of state said that US imperialism has always been against popular governments in Latin America. The main characteristic of world imperialism is that with its illegitimate demands it seeks to exploit the peoples and oppose their will.
He pointed out that the imperialists are afraid of justice, conscience and the peoples, since these pillars are contrary to their interests. He assured that the conscience of the peoples, the governments and the legislative assemblies of the sovereign countries are necessary to guide the struggle for freedom and justice.
He valued that the media empire seeks to change the image of the independent countries and sow doubts in their citizens, especially in the youth, to align their desires with the interests of imperialism.
He affirmed that constant communication and links between independent countries are vital for them to be better protected against imperialist conspiracies and plans.
He said that Iran and Nicaragua share a common history of struggle, resistance, revolutions and combat against a common enemy, as well as defense and respect for the will and vote of the people. He affirmed that if the Legislative Assemblies are based on the popular vote, then they will be an expression of their will and true democracy.
He recalled that the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Komeini, stressed that the main criterion of legitimacy of a government is the vote of the people and that all the powers of the people are concentrated in the Assembly.
He further quoted the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei, who has stressed that every Palestinian citizen has the right to vote and that a government and democracy must be established in Palestine by the vote of the Palestinians in the occupied territories, which the imperialists have prevented for 70 years.
He considered that imperialism used to send its armies or use its internal agents to impose its will, but now it also appeals to economic sanctions to achieve its purposes. Regarding them, he stressed that they will not be the last mechanism of imperialism to impose its will, but the Iranian people have demonstrated their ineffectiveness by turning them into an opportunity to strengthen themselves.
Central America
U.S. and El Salvador maintain close partnership, embassy says
The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in El Salvador, Naomi Fellows, said on Monday that relations between the two countries remain “very close” and that both governments continue to work together in several areas of shared interest.
Speaking at a press conference, Fellows highlighted the longstanding friendship between the United States and El Salvador, as well as the achievements reached through bilateral agreements.
“In terms of our relationship with El Salvador, it continues to be very strong, very close. We are partners on security issues, on economic development; partners on migration, and on many other matters,” she said.
Fellows added that the relationship remains solid and is expected to continue strengthening through joint actions and cooperation initiatives.
On security, she noted that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has underscored the results of the measures implemented by the government of President Nayib Bukele to improve public safety in the country.
Senior U.S. officials have visited El Salvador to observe firsthand the impact of the Territorial Control Plan, including tours of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
Fellows also emphasized the strong personal ties between the two nations, pointing to family and friendship connections that link Salvadorans and Americans.
Central America
Taiwan’s $10 million donation after 2001 earthquakes allegedly diverted in El Salvador
Amid the national tragedy left by the earthquakes of January 13 and February 13, 2001, a controversial corruption scandal emerged that later implicated former presidents Francisco Flores and Elías Antonio Saca, as well as senior executives of the ARENA party.
Although there were efforts to conceal a scheme involving the misuse of public funds, subsequent investigations revealed that between October 2003 and April 2004 the government of Taiwan, led at the time by President Chen Shui-bian, delivered at least three checks totaling $10 million in donations to El Salvador. The funds were diverted and never recorded by the Technical Secretariat for External Financing, the government body responsible for coordinating and monitoring international cooperation resources.
The plight of more than 1.5 million earthquake victims prompted an outpouring of international solidarity. However, it also fueled ambitions among sectors that allegedly took advantage of the emergency to improperly appropriate resources intended to ease the suffering of those affected.
Part of the $10 million donation was earmarked for the construction of housing for residents of Las Colinas, one of the communities hardest hit by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on January 13, 2001, at 11:35 a.m. Plans also included the creation of a memorial park to honor the 525 victims buried by landslides.
At a press conference in January 2014, Alejandro Flores, president of the Las Colinas community board, stated that residents received some assistance from Taiwanese cooperation funds. However, he clarified that this support came from different resources and that the destination of the $10 million donation was never known to them.
Central America
El Salvador reports safest year in its history, security cabinet says
Officials from the institutions that make up El Salvador’s Expanded Security Cabinet on Monday, January 5, presented the results achieved through the country’s security strategies during 2025.
Authorities highlighted a significant reduction in homicides, the arrest of all perpetrators involved in killings, and the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs throughout the past year.
“We have reached the day when, as the Expanded Security Cabinet, we present the national security report,” said Minister of Security Gustavo Villatoro.
Villatoro detailed the number of days with zero homicides recorded during the administration of President Nayib Bukele, as well as during the state of exception in 2025.
“We have accumulated 1,102 days without homicides during President Nayib Bukele’s administration, of which 988 occurred during the state of exception,” Villatoro explained.
The security minister underscored the government’s fight against impunity, noting that in 2025 authorities arrested those responsible for every homicide reported during the year.
“We closed 2025 with 82 homicides, all of which have been solved. That means we achieved a 100% homicide clearance rate and 0% impunity in homicide cases,” Villatoro said.
“These figures clearly show that the security measures promoted by the government were exactly what the country needed, and today we can say with full authority that we are the safest country in the entire Western Hemisphere,” he added.
Villatoro also reported the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants at the end of the year.
“In 2024, we closed with a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2025, we reduced it to 1.3, which represents 32 fewer homicides compared to the previous year,” he said.
According to official data, of the 82 homicides recorded in 2025, 43 were linked to social intolerance, 31 to family-related disputes, and eight to criminal activity. Villatoro emphasized that El Salvador is the only country able to report a reduction of more than 50% in street and violent crimes, including theft, assault, rape, extortion, vehicle theft and robbery.
“2025 represents the safest year in our national history, and all of this is due to the daily efforts of thousands of men and women in uniform and in public service,” Villatoro stated.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister René Francis Merino Monroy noted that another key factor behind the country’s low crime figures has been the strengthened security shield implemented by authorities in the fight against drug trafficking.
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