State Department officials this week said they will develop for Congress an assessment of Iranian-related threats in Central and South America, as required by a new law, The Washington Times reported Wednesday, January 9. “Iran has serially defied the will of the international community and is a state sponsor of terrorism,” State Department spokesman Peter Velasco said. “We are fully aware that its presence in the [Western] hemisphere could have implications for our security and that of our neighbors.” President Obama signed the “Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act” into law on Dec. 28. It gives the secretary of state 180 days to provide Congress with an assessment of Iranian activities in the hemisphere, and calls on the State Department to lead the creation of a “comprehensive government-wide strategy to counter Iran’s growing hostile presence and activity,” primarily in Latin America.