Venezuelan President Meets the Leader
Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Leader stated that independent countries should increase their power through unity and cooperation and defend their common identity and the interests of their nations with hope and vitality and dynamism.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the U.S. failure in dealing a blow to Venezuela and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran and Venezuela both have independent and national governments that rely on their general public. Therefore, the cooperation between these two countries is something quite natural, and it should be further expanded and consolidated,” Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the U.S. plans and measures to deal a blow to independent countries.
“The domineering powers bully other countries by putting on an awe-inspiring front. However, today the United States has to a great extent lost its awe-inspiring front, and this country is facing many problems with respect to its political structure and organization. In view of these realities, independent countries should try to further expand their cooperation,” the Leader told the Venezuelan president.
Ayatollah Khamenei described as necessary the making of earnest efforts to follow up and carry into effect the agreements reached between the two countries. He stated that it is possible to expedite the expansion of cooperation between the two countries by utilizing the existing capabilities.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, for his part, expressed great pleasure over his new visit to Tehran. He described the Islamic Republic of Iran as an appropriate model for other countries.
The Venezuelan president also said that the various agreements reached between the two countries in the oil and gas and petrochemical sectors and in different industries indicate that Tehran and Caracas are determined to expand their cooperation.
President Chavez further referred to the political developments that have taken place in Latin America over the recent years, during which independent and anti-American governments have taken office in a number of regional countries.
“These realities indicate that U.S. imperialism is declining, and independent countries are viewing the future with hope and optimism,” the Venezuelan president told the Leader.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez met Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  They pledged further cooperation of "independent nations."

The visit of Chavez to Tehran, Iran, followed earlier ones to Russia and Belarus. Iran's state-run television reported that Hugo Chavez stated to Khamenei that Iran was an apt model for other nations to emulate.

Chavez said that the two nations' ties in the petroleum, gasoline, and petrochemical sectors will be expanded.  

In a reference to the recent political development in various parts of Latin America where anti-American leaders have attained political control, Chavez said, "U.S. imperialism is declining, and independent countries are viewing the future with hope and optimism."

Both Venezuela and Iran are members of OPEC.  

Last month, Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, came to Iran. In the following months, Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, is expected in Tehran.