Hugo Chávez announces forthcoming visit of Ahmadinejad to Caracas

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has said that he expected his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit Venezuela by the end of the year. Chávez made the announcement on his weekly television and radio broadcast "Aló Presidente" while flanked by Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela, Amad Sobani. The Venezuelan leader visited Ahmadinejad in Tehran in September. Venezuela has built close relations with Iran in recent years, including the signing of numerous agreements to cement economic, political and military cooperation.

"Iran is attacked like us by the empire," Chávez said during the program, referring to the United States. "We are accused of exporting terrorism, but they are the killers." Iran’s spreading influence in South America has been causing concern both in the United States and Israel.

Israeli President Shimon Peres is expected to raise those concerns during an official visit to Brazil and Argentina, which are home to the largest Jewish populations in South America. Israel has not had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since January, when Chávez expelled the Israeli ambassador to protest against Israel’s war in Gaza. Peres is scheduled to give the first speech ever by an Israeli official to the Brazilian Parliament. He is leading a delegation that includes Israel's tourism minister, business leaders and senior members of the Israeli defense industry.