Venezuela and Iran Strengthen “Anti-Imperialist” Alliance

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."