Given its present trend of construction, the Islamic Iran will set an example for other world nations, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday.

Iran is gaining influence in Latin America as the region turns away from Washington and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad courts new allies to counter US hegemony.

Iran says it will make a formal protest to Iraq on Wednesday over the apparent arrest and detention of seven of its nationals by US troops in Baghdad.