Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warmly greeted Chavez at the presidential palace hours after the Venezuelan leader arrived for a two-day visit, Iranian state TV reported.

Both men are eyed with great suspicion by the United States which has led tougher international sanctions against Iran over the nuclear program Washington fears would lead to a bomb.

Chavez, who is on his ninth visit to Iran as president, praised Caracas’ ties with its close Mideast ally, saying they “are solid and very, very deep.”

The leaders of the two major oil exporters inspected a guard of honor before heading into talks which Iranian media said were aimed at boosting cooperation in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors.

In remarks carried on Venezuelan state television, Chavez said relations with Tehran are based both on “shared interests” and a mutual belief in the importance of Iranian sovereignty.

The Venezuelan leader, who has backed Iran in its confrontation with Western powers over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program, said he and Ahmadinejad would discuss “the tensions that (US) imperialism is generating” in the Middle East and “the unfair sanctions imposed on the people of Iran,” referring to the UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

“The progressive and fraternal stance of Venezuela in condemning sanctions against Iran imposed by the bullying powers is indicative of the deep and firm ties between the two countries,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the student news agency ISNA.

Chavez is on a 10-day tour of Europe and the Middle East and he secured while in Moscow on Friday Russia’s agreement to build Venezuela’s first nuclear power plant.

A Russian-built reactor is due to start providing Iran’s first nuclear power early next year as part of a move into nuclear technology that Tehran says will allow it to export more of its fossil fuels.

The US and its allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop an atomic bomb. Iran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes such as generating electricity and producing radioisotopes for medical uses.

Chavez also defended his own plan to build a nuclear power plant in Venezuela with Russia’s help, denouncing critics in the Latin American media who he said jumped to the conclusion that nuclear power “can’t be permitted for Venezuela because it’s a country that’s readying itself to attack.” “It’s the same tale, the same story of the (US) empire and all of its worldwide networks to try to impede the independence of our people,” Chavez said. “Development, industrialization: On that path we have chosen, they will not stop us.” It’s unclear how much money Chavez is prepared to commit to the atomic program, or how quickly he could move to build a reactor.

Chavez also said Iranian and Venezuelan officials were working on new cooperative accords, though he did not give details or say in which areas. Past cooperative agreements have seen Iran provide assistance for projects including building public housing, bicycles and tractors in Venezuela.