Asunción, Paraguay — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that Iran continues to engage in illicit activities in Latin America and is “the largest state sponsored of terror” representing “a global threat”.

“Iranian money remains in South America being used for malign purposes, supporting Hezbollah, supporting transnational criminal organizations, supporting efforts at terrorism throughout the region," Pompeo said in an interview with Voice of America during a visit to the region.

He added, "We see Iran for what it is: the world's largest state sponsor of terror. That's a global threat."

Hezbollah is believed to have an active network in Latin America, partly used as a financial machine supplying cash to the militant group.

Pompeo noted that an airline had begun direct flights last week from Tehran to Caracas. The carrier, Mahan Air, has been sanctioned by Washington for allegedly transporting military equipment to Middle East war zones.

“This is Iran intervening in South America. That's not in the best interests of the South American people, and the United States stands ready.”

The United States designated Iran’s Revolution Guards as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” on April 8.

Iran has also been a big supporter of Venezuela’s embattled president Nicholas Maduro.