Obama warned to back off after Latin America law

Mr Obama enacted the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act on Friday.

It gives the State Department 180 days to "address Iran's growing hostile presence and activity" in the region.

The law - passed by Congress in mid-December - accuses Iran of backing terrorist groups hostile to the US.

It also calls on the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen the Mexican and Canadian borders to keep Iranian secret services and sponsored terrorist groups out.

And the Act asks the government to explore ways of stopping countries' attempts to help Iran evade sanctions, singling out Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said: "The Americans are still living in the cold war era and imagine that Latin America is (still) their backyard and intend to impose and dictate their own policies on independent countries."

He said Iran - which has opened five new embassies in Latin America since 2005, bringing the total to 11 alongside 17 cultural centres - based its foreign policy on "mutual respect and interest."

"I recommend the US officials respect the sovereignty of states instead of opting for meddlesome methods," said Mr Mehmanparast.

US intelligence officials have indicated there is no apparent indication of illicit activities by Iran.