The Bush administration is pressuring Latin American nations to prevent Venezuela from securing an open seat on the United Nations Security Council. Under UN rules, Latin American governments are entitled to pick a country from the region to fill the rotating seat that comes open next year. The Los Angeles Times reports the U.S. fears the selection of Venezuela might confound the Bush administration’s plans to step up pressure on Iran. U.S. diplomats are threatening nations like Chile with withdrawing support for key projects if they back the selection of Venezuela. One Chilean newspaper reported Secretary of State Rice told her Chilean counterpart that a vote for Venezuela would lump Chile with a group of “losers.” Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and several Caribbean nations have already backed Venezuela. The U.S. is lobbying for Guatemala to get the UN seat.