CARACAS - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez lavished each other with praise on Monday, mocked US disapproval and joked about having an atomic bomb at their disposal.
"Despite those arrogant people who do not wish us to be together, we will unite forever," the Iranian president told socialist leader Chavez at the start of a visit to four left-leaning Latin American nations.
RELATED:US: Iran uranium enrichment a 'further escalation'Khamenei: Iran won't yield to Western sanctionsDespite their geographical distance, the fiery anti-US ideologues have forged increasingly close ties between their fellow OPEC nations in recent years, although concrete projects have often lagged behind the rhetoric.
Ahmadinejad was in Venezuela at the start of a tour intended to shore up support as expanded Western economic sanctions kick in over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
"The imperialist madness has been unleashed in a way that has not been
seen for a long time," Chavez said in a ceremony to welcome Ahmadinejad
at his presidential palace in Caracas.
Both men hugged, beamed, held hands and showered each other with praise.
As he often does, the theatrical and provocative Chavez stuck his finger
right into the global political sore spot, joking that a bomb was ready
under a grassy knoll in front of his Miraflores palace steps.
"That hill will open up and a big atomic bomb will come out," he said, the two men laughing together.
"The imperialist spokesmen say ... Ahmadinejad and I are going into the
Miraflores basement now to set our sights on Washington and launch
cannons and missiles ... It's laughable."
US officials from President Barack Obama down have expressed disquiet
over Venezuela's close ties with Iran. They fear Chavez will weaken the
international diplomatic front against Iran and could give Tehran an
economic lifeline.
The United States and its allies believe Iran's nuclear policy is aimed
at producing a weapon. Iran says it is only for peaceful power
generation.
As well as Venezuela, Ahmadinejad plans to visit Nicaragua, Cuba and
Ecuador -- a visit that Washington has said shows its "desperation" for
friends.
Brazil notably absent from Ahmadinejad's agenda
Those nations' governments share Chavez's broad global views, but do not
have Venezuela's economic clout and are unable to offer Iran any
significant assistance.
Regional economic powerhouse Brazil, which gave the Iranian leader a
warm welcome when he visited during the previous government of Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva, was notably absent from his agenda this time.
Analysts are watching closely to see if Chavez will back Iran's threat
to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil shipping
lane, or how much he could undermine the sanctions by providing fuel or
cash to Tehran.
Ahmadinejad, who is subordinate to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
on foreign policy, has said little about the rising tensions with the
West, including the sentencing to death of an Iranian-American man for
spying for the CIA.
The Venezuelan and Iranian leaders mostly limited their comments on Monday to mutual adulation and anti-US snipes.
"President Chavez is the champion in the war on imperialism," Ahmadinejad said.
"The only bombs we're preparing are bombs against poverty, hunger and
misery," added Chavez, saying 14,000 new homes had been built recently
in Venezuela by Iranian constructors.