Venezuela and Iran cement ties

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 11, 2012, 13:17 Updated : January 11, 2012, 13:17
Amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf and a growing diplomatic squabble in the Americas, Iranian President Ahmadinejad received a warm welcome in Venezuela Monday as he kicked off a four-nation Latin American tour that is raising concerns in Washington.

According to reporters, Ahmadinejad’s visit, which will also take him to Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador, comes a day after the Department of State confirmed that Venezuela’s consul in Miami was asked to leave the country amid reports that she took part in a 2008 discussion about a potential cyber-attack against the United States.

It also comes the same day Iran was accused of stepping up its efforts to enrich uranium, and Iran’s courts announced a former US Marine was condemned to death on spying charges.

Calling Ahmadinejad his “real brother,” Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said the two nations had to stand together against the United States and her allies. “We didn’t ask for this task, but it’s our duty to stop the crazed imperialism that is stronger than ever before,” he said. “It’s a danger to the world, these pretensions of the Yankee Empire to control the globe.”

The two leaders were scheduled to discuss ongoing bilateral projects, and the state-run Agencia Venezolana de Noticias said they would sign new accords covering tourism, science and technology, energy, and the automotive industry.


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