Leaders of Iran, Venezuela declare solidarity against U.S.

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Leaders of Iran, Venezuela declare solidarity against U.S.

Updated: November 25, 2009 - 7:05 PM

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CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to expand Tehran's influence in Latin America and deepen his alliance with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a visit Wednesday to Caracas.

Both leaders roundly denounced U.S. "imperialism," and Chavez called Israel "a murderous arm of the Yankee empire."

Chavez also rebuked Israeli President Shimon Peres for his recent prediction that the people of Venezuela and Iran would soon oust the two leaders.

"What the president of Israel said, we take it as a threat," Chavez said, standing beside Ahmadinejad outside the presidential palace.

Ahmadinejad's visit triggered small protests, and Venezuela's opposition accused Chavez of developing a "dangerous alliance" by growing close to the Iranian leader. It cited concerns about Tehran's nuclear program and the Iranian president's record on women's rights, crackdowns on dissent and denials of the Holocaust.

Chavez welcomed Ahmadinejad, saying both countries were withstanding threats from "the same empire" -- the United States. Ahmadinejad praised Chavez saying that he was "withstanding the aggressions of imperialism like a mountain" and that the countries were like two soldiers in the same battle trench.

"We feel at home here and among our brothers," Ahmadinejad said. "We're going to be together until the end."

Chavez and Ahmadinejad were expected to discuss cooperation in energy, trade and other areas. Venezuela was the final leg of the Iranian leader's tour of Latin America after stops in Brazil and Bolivia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS