Ahmadinejad began a tour of an intensive program in Venezuela

Ahmadinejad began a tour of an intensive program in Venezuela

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday made an intensive program of activities in Venezuela at the beginning of a tour of the region, including Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador amid U.S. criticism.

The visit comes amid great expectations due to pressure Tehran to face a tightening blockade by the West for Iran's oil production because of its nuclear program and the new tensions that emerged between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

President Hugo Chavez said that the agenda to meet Ahmadinejad on the fifth visit to the South American country will be more stringent.

"Tomorrow we work all day, check out the cooperation agreement we are a threat to anyone .. We only have the rights and sovereign."

The President reported on Friday that the "central theme" of Iran's leaders traveled to the region to attend the inauguration of Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega.

Chavez on Sunday downplayed criticism that emerged from Washington about Ahmadinejad's visit to four Latin American allies and said during the television program "Hello President", that "the Yankee empire, which provides, a laugh".

The President denied that from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua are preparing an attack against America, saying that "not even think (Americans) to come to get here or on the continent, this is another world now."

"Our relationship with Latin American countries are very good and developing. Cultural society and the demands of this area is similar to the historical demands of the Iranian people," Ahmadinejad said shortly before leaving for his tour of four Latin American countries, as reported by Iranian news agency (IRNA ).

"These are people who are anti-colonialist thought. That's why they are resistant to the regime of oppression," he said.

Referring to Ahmadinejad's visit to four Latin American allies, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, said last Friday that "while the regime felt pressure, eager to have friends and presents an interesting site to find new friends."

Nuland recalled that the United States has "been absolutely clear with countries around the world that now is not a good time to deepen the relationship, or security, or economic, with Iran."

In the last seven years, Iran has intensified its relations with Latin America, especially during the tenure of Ahmadinejad who in less than five years and four times has visited Venezuela, besides Brazil, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador and Cuba.

As part of a strong partnership, Tehran has signed more than a hundred agreements with Latin American partners in the oil, agriculture, industrial, military, mining, finance, health and construction.

In recent weeks, West has tightened sanctions on Iran for oil production of the new evidence will be obtained nuclear watchdog of the United Nations to show that Tehran would be engaged in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Ahmadinejad arrived Sunday after 06:30 (23:00 GMT) to Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetía, where he was received by Vice President Elias Jaua, according to state TV broadcast pictures.

While Chavez has strong defenders of Iran, who has visited nine times in nearly 13 years in office, the president remained cautious about the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which is exacerbated not only reach the United States, but also some Arab countries that have good relations Venezuela become a partner within OPEC.

Chavez criticized Washington last Friday and said that "the Yankees intend to provoke a war for provoking tensions" in the Strait of Hormuz.

Narrow, leading to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, is the only possible route for tankers carrying oil from countries of Persian Gulf oil to the market. One-sixth of the world's oil exports pass through every day.

After 10 days of the Iranian naval exercises near the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran earlier this year released a warning to the U.S. aircraft carrier that is not returned to the Persian Gulf, which stirred tensions in the region and sparked fears in the oil market and oil prices blow up more than $ 100 per barrel.