Ahmadinejad, Chavez Highlight Unity

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez have underlined the need to expand cooperation in fighting imperialism.

Ahmadinejad and Chavez on Wednesday highlighted enhanced cooperation between Iran and Venezuela as a key factor in standing up to the enemy.

Ahmadinejad said that cooperation between the two countries was of "high significance."

He said that the two countries were "united to establish a new world order based on humanity and justice."

President Ahmadinejad condemned the expansion of militarism as well as the interference of bullying powers in Latin America.

Chavez, in turn, called Iran-Venezuela ties as a "strategic alliance" and described his visit to Tehran as significant in showing the depth of relations between Iran and Venezuela.

“Imperialistic countries are trying their best to stop our progress … But the more we resist and the more we try, no matter how hard they try or how much they threaten us, they will move toward graveyard by their action," Chavez said.

"Today is the end of imperialism. It's very close," he added.

Chavez also reiterated his strong support of Iran's independence and condemned threats of military action against the country.

The Venezuelan president arrived in Iran on Monday for a three-day official visit, with the goal of boosting ties between Tehran and Caracas.

This is Chavez's ninth visit to Iran since taking power in 1999 and comes almost one year after President Ahmadinejad paid a visit to Venezuela.

Iran has developed amicable relations with numerous Latin American countries, including Venezuela.

Iran's soaring popularity in Latin America has dismayed the United States, which has been engaged in a tireless global campaign to isolate Tehran over its nuclear program. Washington considers Latin America as its "strategic backyard."

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