Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose country is a major US oil supplier, on Friday expressed his support for Iran's nuclear programme, which is opposed by the United States and Europe. "Iran has every right in the world, as do other countries, to develop its own atomic energy," Chavez told visiting Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Iran is resisting heavy pressure from Washington and the European Union to scrap parts of its nuclear programme, such as uranium enrichment, which can be used to make atomic weapons.
The United States accuses Iran of secretly working to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says its atomic program, long concealed from the UN nuclear watchdog, is purely for civilian energy purposes.
"You can count on our support, affection and solidarity against the threats of the US government against the brother nation of Iran," Chavez said after he and Khatami witnessed the signing of more than 20 bilateral energy and other co-operation deals.
Earlier, Khatami, who received a decoration from Chavez, said the two countries would stand firm against "any aggression" but he did not directly mention the nuclear issue or the United States.
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