Venezuela and Iran Strengthen "Anti-Imperialist" Alliance

November 20th 2007, by Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad receives Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez upon his arrival to Tehran on Monday. (Reuters)

Caracas, November 20, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad agreed on Monday to form a strategic alliance between their countries to defend common interests and ideals. During a brief meeting in Tehran, the two leaders signed four more bilateral agreements in the areas of energy, finance, and industry, and promised that they would continue to work together to "defeat the empire."

"We are willing to confront U.S. imperialism in any territory and to defeat it," said Chavez upon leaving Tehran yesterday. "We are defeating them and we will defeat them. We don't want war, but we intend to be free."

The Venezuelan leader made a quick visit to Iran, his fourth in two years, where he held a six-hour private meeting with his Iranian counterpart and signed four new bilateral agreements. Both leaders emphasized their unity during a press conference afterwards.

"We have signed some very important and constructive agreements that will increase cooperation and bilateral relations between both countries, and will allow us to strengthen our ties," said Ahmadinejad. "We are intent on expanding our bilateral and international relations, defending the rights of exploited poor nations, and always supporting each other."

The four new accords signed between the two countries are in addition to 182 previous agreements that have been signed over the last two years. President Chavez assured that the new agreements constitute a real network of strategic cooperation and unity.

"We have built a real network, a big strategic alliance that includes investment of $4.6 billion," he said. "But soon we won't be talking in dollars. The dollar is sinking and with it the U.S. empire is sinking, thanks to God and to the struggle of the people."

The first agreement signed was a statement between the Venezuelan Ministry of Basic Industry and Mining (Mibam) and the Iranian Ministry of Industry and Mining, with the purpose of creating a joint company in Venezuela to build medium and large-sized molds in the aluminum, iron, and plastic sectors, and for the smelting of metals.

The second agreement has to do with the education of oil personnel, and will allow for the training in Iran of 200 Venezuelans as oil technicians.

The last two agreements signed in the meeting are in the financial sector. One agreement will allow for the creation of a Venezuelan-Iranian Bank, and the other agreement deals with the creation of a Bi-national Investment Fund of one billion dollars for the development of projects in both countries.

President Chavez expressed his satisfaction with the meeting and thanked the ministers and technical teams from both Iran and Venezuela for the beneficial results of the agreements. Chavez thanked the Iranians for their help in the recent installation of milk processing plants and corn processing plants in Venezuela, as well as the vehicle assembly plant "Venirauto" and the joint tractor factory "Veniran Tractor." All of these productive units are now operating in Venezuela, with Iranian technology.

"We have advanced in industrial agreements, in energy agreements, and we have agreed to initiate more projects in the coming months," assured Chavez.

The Venezuelan President also commented on the tense relation between Tehran and Washington, and rejected the posture of the United States regarding the Iranian nuclear program.

"Venezuela will always be with Iran. We demand respect for Iran's sovereignty. Iran has the right to build nuclear energy for peaceful ends," he said.

Chavez has stated on a number of occasions the intention of creating a multipolar world, and fighting against a unipolar world dominated by the United States. The Venezuelan leader explained the changes occurring both inside Venezuela and on an international level in the context of building a multipolar world.

"Despite the wishes of imperialism, our relations are developing in every aspect, and Iran and Venezuela will remain united and on the side of the exploited nations. Here we are, two brother countries united like a single fist."