Venezuela & Iran pledge closer ties after leaders meet in Tehran

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has traveled to Iran, one stop of many, during his tour of the Middle East. While there, he sat down for a lengthy meeting with his ally, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Both the leaders of Iran and Venezuela have strained relations with the United States, which tends to bond the two nations together. Ahmadinejad was quotes as saying that both countries have "important missions to help the oppressed and revolutionary nations and to expand the anti-imperialist front in the world." He went on to say that "Time has passed for arrogant powers to have influence on revolutionary nations." The two countries plan on collaborating on geological surveys in Venezuela, the construction of ethanol plants in Venezuela, and gas exploration in Iran. A new Iranian-Venezuelan bank was established that has $200 million in start up capital. This marks Chavez's eighth visit to Iran, which has become a staunch ally in both leaders goals of criticizing the United States.