Iran opens $10M fiber optic plant in Venezuela to expand tech diplomacy

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Iran has officially launched a fiber optic production facility in Venezuela, marking a significant step in its efforts to export advanced technological expertise to Latin America and broaden its global technology diplomacy.

The project, initiated by Iranian knowledge-based firms, was announced by Seyed Sattar Hashemi, Iran’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, who said the move reflects Iran’s growing capacity to deliver high-tech solutions abroad. 

The new plant, built with an investment of $10 million, is designed to supply Venezuela’s domestic fiber optic needs and position the country as a future export hub for telecom equipment in the region.

Until now, Venezuela had been importing around $2 million worth of fiber optic equipment annually from Iran. The new facility will localize production and potentially expand exports to neighboring Latin American markets.

Amirhossein Mirabadi, head of the Center for International Interactions at the Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, said the project marks a significant strategic move by Iran into Latin America. 

He noted that this region has long been regarded as part of the U.S. sphere of influence.

Separately, Iran is also pursuing efforts to establish itself as a major regional data transit corridor. 

In a recent agreement with Oman, the two countries outlined a new route that will carry data from Northern regions such as Russia and Central Asia through Iran, onward to the Persian Gulf, India, and East Africa. 

The corridor is expected to begin with a data transfer capacity of 4.5 terabits per second.