Iranian warships in Rio de Janeiro stirring concern abroad

By DAVID BILLER
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The arrival this week to Rio de Janeiro of two Iranian warships that Brazil’s government authorized to dock has prompted rebukes both from Israel and the U.S. On Thursday, one of the two ships was spotted off shore Rio’s world-famous south zone of beaches, while the other was docked downtown. The IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena ships are authorized to stay in Rio until March 4. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last month designated both ships for sanctions. Brazil’s foreign ministry didn’t immediately respond to the Associated Press’ request for comment on the statements from the Israeli and American officials.