Iran and Venezuela unite against US

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shored up opposition to a US drive to curb Iran's nuclear programme on a visit to Venezuela yesterday that cemented an anti-American front with President Hugo Chavez.

Ahmadinejad's first trip to Venezuela highlighted Iran's backing for the fellow OPEC country's bid for a UN Security Council seat that Mr Chavez would use to challenge Washington's campaign for international sanctions against Tehran.

Mr Chavez, who Washington calls a destabilising, anti-democratic force, cast the visit as two countries jointly defying what he says is the imperialist aggression of the world's only superpower.

"Iran is one of the emerging countries of Asia, the Middle East. Venezuela is one of the emerging countries of Latin America," he told a state-owned TV network. "It is a union that seeks a balance in the world and to save the future of your children, my children and our grandchildren. It is doing the world a favour," he said.

Buoyed by high oil prices that underpin their popularity at home and tapping into anti-American sentiment around the world, both presidents are awkward foes for the US.

"Two revolutions are giving each other a hand," Mr Chavez said at the capital's airport where he welcomed Mr Ahmadinejad, chatting with him and walking with his arm across the visitor's shoulders.